Rubber export: Improving quality to increase value

Source: According to congthuong.vn

Currently, the main export market of Vietnamese rubber is still China. Improving quality is one of the effective measures to add value as well as diversify markets and develop sustainably.

According to statistics of the General Department of Customs, in June 2022, Vietnam exported 187.83 thousand tons of rubber, worth $310.1 million. In the first 6 months of 2022, the country’s rubber exports reached 787.26 thousand tons, worth 1.36 billion USD, up 10.3% in volume and 13.3% in value over the same period last year. 2021.

The rubber industry needs support to have a sustainable supply

According to the Vietnam Rubber Association, China is still the main market for Vietnam’s rubber latex and preliminarily processed rubber exports. In 2021, this market is the largest consumer of natural rubber, accounting for over 70% of Vietnam’s total natural rubber exports. In the first 6 months of this year, this market consumed 536.32 thousand tons, worth USD 899.28 million, up 9.3% in volume and 13.5% in value over the same period in 2021. Natural exports from Vietnam are quite diverse, in which mixed rubber plays a key role, accounting for nearly 63% of the total export volume.

Mr. To Xuan Phuc – Policy analyst at Forest Trends – said that the ease of calculation from the Chinese market makes Vietnamese exporters, especially small-scale enterprises in the region. The private sector has not paid much attention to the change in the direction of investment to improve quality. Meanwhile, the export of highly processed rubber products with high value-added content is mainly invested by private enterprises and FDI enterprises. Therefore, sustainable natural rubber production in the future is considered an inevitable direction of Vietnam. “This is an opportunity for Vietnam to increase the economic value per unit of output; at the same time, helping to ensure compliance with strict environmental and social requirements in the production stages as well as diversifying export markets.”– Mr. To Xuan Phuc affirmed and said that in the world, there are two sustainable certification systems in the world, including PEFC (Program for Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). The FSC criteria are considered to be stricter than those of PEFC.

Vietnam has developed a National Forest Certification System (VFCS). The system is currently recognized by PEFC. Up to now, Vietnam has about 97,300 hectares of rubber area certified VFCS. This entire area is owned by state rubber companies. Despite the rapid expansion of certified acreage, the certified acreage is still not commensurate with the industry’s potential. All small rubber plantations so far have not been certified; In particular, no area has achieved FSC certification.

Sustainable development trends and responsibility drive changes in Vietnam’s rubber industry to meet the market’s demand for higher quality at competitive prices. However, there are still many difficulties ahead that require participation from many sides. In which, in addition to the support of the State and organizations for the sustainable development of the rubber industry, on the part of businesses, it is necessary to build linkage models, support smallholder rubber farmers, create high sources of income. sustainable rubber to supply the market, contributing to building the brand and reputation of Vietnam’s rubber industry.