Vietnamese wood processing enterprises have very good resistance to the COVID-19 epidemic. Photo: GNT

At the recent webinar on Strategies to restore the supply chain of the furniture industry in Vietnam, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan announced impressive numbers. Accordingly, in the first eight months of 2021, the export turnover of wood and wood products will reach 10.4 billion USD, up 41.4% over the same period in 2020. Particularly, the export turnover of wood products will reach 7.98 billion USD. USD, up 45.6% over the same period in 2020.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, although export data in September has not improved, compared to the difficulties caused by the pandemic, the achievements and efforts of Vietnam's wood processing industry are remarkable. This is the result of the careful preparation, initiative and determination of businesses in the industry, determined not to be constrained by circumstances.

Currently, the demand for orders from partners in other countries is increasing due to entering the year-end shopping season. Therefore, in the context that the epidemic is under control, it is also the time when Vietnamese wood processing enterprises are planning to recover and update the situation, share information about the supply capacity of domestic enterprises to the country. international markets.

Market size of some wood products. Source: Trade Promotion Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade

Ms. Bui Thanh An, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that despite the difficulties caused by the 4th wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the furniture industry, opportunities for Vietnamese businesses are still there. is expanding because major consumer markets such as the US, UK, France, and the Netherlands all increased by about 50% over the same period.

Data recorded from the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that, if including the group of interior, exterior and fine art decorations, Vietnam has exported 10 billion USD in the first half of 2021 and increased 70% over the same period in 2020. The fact that the industry's activities have been recorded in the past 2 years, when the epidemic began, shows that Vietnamese furniture enterprises have very good resilience. Support and orientation activities of professional organizations are also very active," added Ms. Bui Thanh An.

Vietnam's resilience and resilience after the pandemic is also highly appreciated by partners, customers and the international community. Mr. Benjamin Petlock, Senior Attaché for Agriculture - US Embassy, said that the US market has received very positively Vietnamese furniture products. The trade relationship between Vietnam and the United States, including the supply of legal wood materials and the supply of high-quality furniture products, has grown in recent years. "On both sides, the import and export markets are both large and likely to expand in the near future," commented Mr. Benjamin Petlock.

Growth of some wood products. Source: Trade Promotion Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade

According to the US Embassy's Senior Attaché, the impact of the epidemic is causing certain disturbances to the global supply chain, from shipping costs to increasing raw material prices. However, Mr. Benjamin Petlock believes that the supply chain will quickly re-establish its order, when countries are aware and have a clearer strategy to live with COVID-19.

Sharing the same opinion, representatives of large international enterprises in Vietnam such as H.Nicolas & Co, KODA... also affirmed their belief in the recovery of the supply chain as well as the recovery of Vietnamese enterprises in the future. next time. Despite difficulties, opportunities for Vietnam's furniture industry are still wide open. Enterprises themselves are also aware of this great opportunity, so they have been constantly looking for ways to adapt to new conditions, from retaining employees, finding a stable source of raw materials to even applying machinery. Modern machinery and equipment to reduce dependence on human resources, improve product quality...

“In addition to the open and supportive policies from agencies and departments, the support and companionship of associations throughout the country, I believe that the wood processing industry in Vietnam will quickly recover, regain its continue to become the spearhead of the country's economic development," affirmed Mr. Do Xuan Lap, President of Viforest.