Vietnam’s wood processing and export industry has emerged as one of the brightest spots in the country’s export landscape in 2020. Despite facing numerous challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry still achieved at least 15% growth compared to 2019.
Mr. Bui Huu Them, Deputy Secretary General of HAWA (Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City), shared insights with Vietnam Rubber Journal about the industry’s growth potential and development strategy.
HAWA’s Strategic Vision: Building a Strong and Connected Industry
Although headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, HAWA connects over 550 member enterprises across 25 provinces, playing a key leadership role in Vietnam’s wood industry.
“Our mission is to act as a bridge between enterprises and the Government, advocating for favorable policies, providing training, and creating business opportunities through trade fairs and exhibitions,” said Mr. Them.
HAWA aims to:
-
Expand membership by 10–15% annually;
-
Strengthen business connectivity and knowledge sharing among members;
-
Inspire active contributions to economic, social, and environmental sustainability;
-
Promote Vietnam’s wood and furniture sector as a creative and high-value industry.
By 2025, HAWA targets:
-
$20 billion in wood exports, with 60–70% from Vietnamese enterprises;
-
30% of exporters producing high value-added products;
-
20% of enterprises transitioning from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) to ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) models;
-
Development of affordable industrial land for furniture production clusters to generate jobs and increase competitiveness.
“Our goal is to make Vietnam’s wood and furniture industry a globally recognized brand—driving higher value creation, attracting investment, and building a comprehensive supply chain,” Mr. Them emphasized.
Adapting Through Innovation During COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global trade, Vietnam—currently the 5th largest wood exporter in the world—faced severe supply chain and logistics challenges. In response, HAWA launched innovative solutions to help its members sustain operations.
One of the key initiatives was the HAWA Online Platform for Exhibition (HOPE) — Vietnam’s first virtual furniture exhibition platform, launched on August 7, 2020.
Through HOPE (accessible at hopefairs.com), exporters can display detailed 3D models of products, showrooms, and factories to international buyers without in-person contact. The platform now hosts 100 virtual showrooms and thousands of furniture products, integrating with global e-commerce platforms to help Vietnamese manufacturers secure export orders remotely.
Thanks to digital transformation and proactive adaptation, Vietnam’s wood industry maintained strong growth in 2020 — with export turnover reaching USD 12.5 billion, up from USD 11.2 billion in 2019.
Strong Growth Outlook for the Next Decade
Vietnam’s Government continues to recognize the wood industry as a key export sector, with tremendous growth potential in both volume and value.
The industry is expected to grow by 10–15% annually, reaching USD 13.5–14 billion by 2022, and achieving the USD 20 billion target by 2025.
Key growth drivers include:
-
Open trade policies and streamlined domestic regulations;
-
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP;
-
Import tax reductions to 0% for partner countries within 4–6 years;
-
Rising demand for sustainable, high-quality furniture in Europe, North America, and Asia.
“These next-generation FTAs elevate Vietnam’s position in global value chains, allowing our wood exporters to become a vital link in international supply networks,” Mr. Them added.
“They also help enhance brand reputation, attract buyers, and boost competitiveness against major exporting nations.”