After the Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, Vietnam’s export of many agricultural products to the Netherlands increased sharply.
Export of agricultural products increased sharply
According to calculations from the statistics of the General Department of Customs, in the four months after the EVFTA took effect, two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the Netherlands did not fluctuate, reaching $ 2.66 billion. , down 0.03% over the same period in 2019. Generally for the first 11 months of 2020, two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the Netherlands reached $ 6.85 billion, down 0.14% over the same period in 2019. .
In particular, Vietnam’s merchandise exports to the Netherlands in the four months after the Agreement came into effect reached US $ 2.4 billion, down 0.2% over the same period in 2019. Generally for the first 11 months of 2020, 2020 , export turnover of goods to the Netherlands reached $ 6.27 billion, up 0.3% over the same period in 2019.
Pepper exports to the Netherlands increased sharply after the EVFTA Agreement
Notably, in the group of agricultural products, the export turnover of seafood, pepper, rubber and rice to the Netherlands market after the EVFTA took effect increased sharply over the same period in 2019. Specifically fish and bodies by 20.2%; pepper increased by 20.9%; rubber increased by 11.9% and especially rice increased by 83.7%. Previously, the export turnover of most of these items decreased compared to the same period in 2019. In which, the export turnover of cashew nuts and coffee in the four months after the Agreement took effect decreased mainly due to the Netherlands. has stepped up imports for the time being.
Mr. Vu Ba Phu – Director General of Trade Promotion Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade – said, EU is a dynamic market. Great cooperation opportunities in the field of vegetable, root and fruit trade are concentrated in cooperation with Dutch traders – where import volume from developing countries has grown quite strongly in the years. by. For a long time, the Netherlands has been considered the gateway to the EU market, the leading transshipment place in Europe and the world, for vegetables, fruits and vegetables. In particular, EVFTA is bringing many new opportunities for Vietnamese and Dutch businesses.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hai Tinh – Vietnam Trade Counselor in the Netherlands, the Netherlands is the largest fruit and vegetable import market of Vietnam in the EU. Currently more than 20% of fresh fruits and vegetables supplied by developing countries to the EU through the Netherlands. From the port of Rotterdam, the main point of import, Dutch and international traders will distribute the product to many other EU countries.
Need a strong supply chain
According to experts, the biggest strength of Vietnam is having too favorable natural conditions to produce high quality agricultural products. Vietnamese farmers work extremely hard and they have the skills to know how to plant and make their trees and gardens always beautiful and delicious.
However, the link between the production part and the supply chain stages, especially post-harvest, logistics, and logistics… is still weak. Vietnam’s export of agricultural products lacks linkages.
In the Netherlands, to have a supply chain, from the beginning, the farmer to the last stage, consumption is always quite closely linked, but this has not been seen in the products or supply chain or the way that Vietnam exports.
Exporters need to work very effectively to create a value chain that is not only qualitative, but also stable. There is plenty of room for Vietnam to improve and enhance its professionalism.
Export of Dutch agricultural products currently ranks 2nd in the world. To be as it is now, the Netherlands took nearly 100 years, so Vietnam just needs to invest and go in the right direction, there will be times when the goal is reached.
To promote the export of agricultural products to the Dutch market in particular and the EU in general, experts say that businesses must actively go, find out the needs and tastes of the market they want to penetrate. I have to sit there and sell what I have. Enterprises should go to international exhibitions on agricultural products to approach and find partners with the goal of expanding export markets. Enterprises must also change perceptions of food safety management and monitoring, from end-product inspection to monitoring for hazards throughout the production chain.
In order to maximize the opportunities brought by EVFTA, participating in the Vietnam – Netherlands Agricultural Product Trade Conference will also be a good opportunity for businesses to access the Dutch market as well as the EU, thereby promoting to push the export turnover of Vietnam’s agricultural products to this potential market.