In the first 2 months of the year, rice export reached 890,000 tons (up 27%), export value reached 410 million USD (up 32.6%) over the same period last year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, export turnover in the past two months has decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, reaching only 5.34 billion USD. Meanwhile, imports were estimated at US $ 4.3 billion, down 6.7%. However, in the past 2 months, agricultural products still had a trade surplus of US $ 1.02 billion (up 18.4% compared to the same period last year).
In which, most notably is the case of rice when most of agricultural products decreased such as cashew nuts by 17.4% (reaching 84 million USD); rubber decreased by 16.1% (reaching USD 256 million), vegetables and fruits decreased by 11.9% (reaching USD 513 million) … then rice increased sharply in both quantity and export value. Specifically, export rice reached 890,000 tons (up 27%), export value reached 410 million USD (up 32.6%).
According to TS. Le Duy Binh, CEO of Economica Vietnam, said rice is a very good case when it comes to restructuring the commodity in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic. Only about 5 years ago, 50% of Vietnam's total rice export was exported to China.
But when China changed its import mechanism, businesses tried to diversify export markets. “This process is carried out with the efforts of enterprises in improving product quality, and in support of policies and trade promotion of the State,” he said.
In 2019, the total rice export volume to China will decrease to about 8% of the total rice export. Also in this year, the market noted that the Philippines ranked first in Vietnam's rice export market. Besides, the strong import markets of Vietnam's rice are Senegal (9.86 times), Ivory Coast (up 78.6%), Taiwan (up 31%), Hong Kong (up 28.3 %) and Tanzania (up by 26.6%).
Therefore, when the Covid-19 epidemic occurred, the rice industry was one of the rare agricultural commodity groups that was less affected.
According to Mr. Binh, in order to develop a sustainable market, businesses need to create value chains, in which, large enterprises must have close links with small businesses, micro enterprises, production households … ” To move forward in the entire value chain requires the transformation of all actors in the value chain, ”he said.
Accordingly, the transformation of the rice industry is not only due to the large enterprises, but also to the transformation of tens of thousands of SMEs, business establishments in the chain, of millions of farmers participating in the production process. rice. This is the same for tourism, textile, footwear, fisheries … or any other industry.
“The rice industry has done it and I believe other industries will do it,” he said.
N. Duong
Source: Young Intellectuals
