BUY VIETNAM THIS MONTH
HEADLINES
PM issues directive on accelerating national green growth strategy
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has issued a directive to push ahead with the implementation of the national green growth strategy for 2021 – 2030 with a vision to 2050, a bold step to deliver on the carbon neutraility target.
The Government leader highlighted in the directive that despite multidimensional challenges, Việt Nam has made great strides in green growth, making positive contributions to the economic growth over the recent past. However, the process has not yet fully emerged as an economic growth driver due to several liminatations, including the fragmented policy framework, incomplete green financial instruments, shortages of incentives for breakthrough investments, and poor awareness of green growth significance.
The directive provides a detailed roadmap for Government agencies, local administrations, and key sectors to integrate green growth targets and tasks into their development strategies, plans and legal documents.
Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and Government agencies, and chairperson of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities need to step up communications work, embed green growth principles into national consciousness, while improving the efficiency of information sharing between ministries, sectors and localities during the implementation of the strategy.
PM Chính ordered the Ministry of Planning and Investment to pen a roadmap to carry out green growth initiatives that are linked to long-term socio-econmic development and the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. It will be responsible for institutionalising and overseeing the adaptation and and application of new economic policies, models and tools to restructure the economy towards green and sustainable fashion, ensuring equality and competitive edge as well as promoting the private sector’s pivotal role in the green transition.
The ministry should mobilise every resource for green growth, revise legal documents related to public investment with priority given to green funding, and create preferential investment mechanisms that encourage green growth, the directive stated.
The Ministry of Finance was asked to ramp up efforts to complete the project on the establishment and development of a carbon market in Việt Nam while the State Bank of Việt Nam must continue reviewing and perfecting the regulations on banking and credit in accordance with green growth targets.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Industry and Trade must upgrade the industrial sectors based on innovation and science – technology, attract investments to such green industries as renewable energy, hydrogen, electric vehicle production, and battery charging infrastructure, as well as study and bring into full play measures for adapting to the European Commission’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Specific directions targeting comprehensive reforms in critical areas include building green and smart urban areas with climate-adaptive approach; restructuring the agricultural sector by encouraging organic, circular, high-tech and low-emission farming; strengthening international cooperation in pgreen economy, bolstering economic diplomacy, technological diplomacy, and climate diplomacy; enhancing the integration of green growth into education; as well as promoting high-quality human resources for green growth-related industries.
Additionally, PM Chính called on the business community, associations, research institutes and higher education institutions to join hands with ministries and sectors to carry out the green growth strategy. — VNS
OTHER NEWS
Sweden exports to Vietnam
| Products | 11M/2023 | 11M/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 888,577,741 | 951,364,424 | 7.1 |
| Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 17,008,133 | 20,569,902 | 20.9 |
| Plastic products | 11,513,539 | 19,115,033 | 66.0 |
| Rubber | 446,292 | 564,378 | 26.5 |
| Bags, purses, suitcases, hats, umbrellas | 21,114,957 | 26,011,374 | 23.2 |
| Products of rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet | 9,000,544 | 8,763,524 | -2.6 |
| Wood and articles of wood | 17,013,609 | 20,595,913 | 21.1 |
| Textiles and garments | 78,406,992 | 89,128,399 | 13.7 |
| Footwears, parts of such articles | 50,475,837 | 57,193,967 | 13.3 |
| Materials for textiles and garments, and footwares | 3,782,782 | 5,239,214 | 38.5 |
| Ceramic products | 1,157,300 | 2,151,594 | 85.9 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 10,720,797 | 10,955,559 | 2.2 |
| Other metals and products | 412,255 | 806,661 | 95.7 |
| Computers, electrical products, part thereof | 78,746,384 | 91,400,457 | 16.1 |
| Telephone sets, parts thereof | 376,451,136 | 325,719,587 | -13.5 |
| Machinery, mechanical appliances, equipment, parts thereof | 98,581,846 | 107,833,464 | 9.4 |
| Toys, sports equipment and parts | 7,698,162 | 9,618,851 | 24.9 |
Sweden imports from Vietnam
| Products | 11M/2023 | 11M/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 312,721,995 | 391,799,833 | 25.3 |
| Other petroleum products | 2,608,121 | 2,496,791 | -4.3 |
| Chemical products | 17,435,190 | 11,014,129 | -36.8 |
| Pharmaceutical products | 76,428,750 | 108,183,245 | 41.5 |
| Plastic materials | 2,340,754 | 2,937,296 | 25.5 |
| Plastic products | 6,773,740 | 6,151,941 | -9.2 |
| Wood and articles of wood | 7,005,383 | 4,935,147 | -29.6 |
| Paper products | 32,988,240 | 36,825,798 | 11.6 |
| Iron or steel | 13,061,177 | 12,973,795 | -0.7 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 7,132,542 | 7,523,854 | 5.5 |
| Computers, electrical products, part thereof | 2,623,064 | 5,650,756 | 115.4 |
| Telephone sets, parts thereof | 55,919 | 62,929 | 12.5 |
| Other machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts | 90,925,233 | 129,677,631 | 42.6 |
Denmark exports to Vietnam
| Products | 11T/2023 | 11T/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 314,297,179 | 400,312,659 | 27.4 |
| Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 36,877,368 | 46,626,853 | 26.4 |
| Coffee | 3,550,457 | 3,534,530 | -0.4 |
| Plastic products | 17,993,060 | 23,564,734 | 31.0 |
| Bags, purses, suitcases, hats, umbrellas | 9,618,325 | 14,643,151 | 52.2 |
| Products of rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet | 4,166,798 | 5,960,332 | 43.0 |
| Wood and articles of wood | 24,822,549 | 30,470,651 | 22.8 |
| Textiles and garments | 52,917,632 | 60,595,281 | 14.5 |
| Footwears, parts of such articles | 21,848,268 | 20,957,068 | -4.1 |
| Ceramic products | 3,264,911 | 3,998,852 | 22.5 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 21,849,329 | 43,671,836 | 99.9 |
| Other machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts | 16,634,485 | 18,847,770 | 13.3 |
| Electric wires and cables | 27,141,097 | 28,681,439 | 5.7 |
| Transport vehicles and spare parts | 5,201,745 | 5,981,222 | 15.0 |
| Furniture products from materials other than wood | 16,253,184 | 24,572,550 | 51.2 |
| Toys, sports equipment and parts | 6,648,598 | 4,712,890 | -29.1 |
Denmark imports from Vietnam
| Products | 11T/2023 | 11T/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 196,184,277 | 213,836,312 | 9.0 |
| Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 16,977,390 | 8,638,632 | -49.1 |
| Milk and dairy products | 5,001,216 | 4,935,304 | -1.3 |
| Chemical products | 21,102,101 | 23,474,193 | 11.2 |
| Pharmaceutical products | 13,943,815 | 21,214,297 | 52.1 |
| Plastic products | 6,632,331 | 10,523,939 | 58.7 |
| Materials for textiles and garments, and footwares | 150,427 | 300,412 | 99.7 |
| Iron or steel | 134,116 | 145,216 | 8.3 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 3,748,080 | 6,007,429 | 60.3 |
| Computers, electrical products, part thereof | 3,473,547 | 5,054,400 | 45.5 |
| Other machinery, equipment. tools and spare parts | 45,270,985 | 68,123,247 | 50.5 |
| Electric wires and cables | 1,640,396 | 2,384,397 | 45.4 |
Norway exports to Vietnam
| Products | 11T/2023 | 11T/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 204,558,093 | 120,963,635 | -40.9 |
| Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 5,766,187 | 8,800,226 | 52.6 |
| Fruits and vegetables | 2,296,771 | 2,982,225 | 29.8 |
| Cashew nuts | 7,750,630 | 7,317,053 | -5.6 |
| Plastic products | 2,742,314 | 2,637,181 | -3.8 |
| Bags, purses, suitcases, hats, umbrellas | 6,975,080 | 7,227,856 | 3.6 |
| Wood and articles of wood | 3,713,174 | 2,411,357 | -35.1 |
| Textiles and garments | 14,599,827 | 9,397,135 | -35.6 |
| Footwears, parts of such articles | 12,565,208 | 16,498,803 | 31.3 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 2,539,504 | 1,325,647 | -47.8 |
| Cameras, camcorders and components | 5,004,160 | 4,463,546 | -10.8 |
| Other machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts | 7,057,412 | 12,739,709 | 80.5 |
| Transport vehicles and spare parts | 107,514,994 | 8,292,808 | -92.3 |
| Furniture products from materials other than wood | 1,180,871 | 2,546,415 | 115.6 |
Norway imports from Vietnam
| Products | 11T/2023 | 11T/2024 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (USD) | 396,716,580 | 455,456,943 | 14.8 |
| Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 258,031,898 | 276,975,531 | 7.3 |
| Chemical products | 4,459,119 | 4,403,994 | -1.2 |
| Fertilizers | 25,873,891 | 37,437,421 | 44.7 |
| Articles of iron or steel | 9,212,397 | 7,986,025 | -13.3 |
| Other machinery, equipment. tools and spare parts | 45,628,833 | 70,761,585 | 55.1 |
OTHER NEWS
MOIT sets export growth at 6% in 2025
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has set a target of 6 per cent export growth in 2025 as global inflation has cooled down and international market demand recovers.
The recovery of major markets such as the US and EU will be an important driving force for exports, especially in electronics, consumer goods and textiles, the MoIT said.
The ministry added that the country’s macroeconomic data on GDP growth, the industrial production index, the purchasing managers index and export orders in recent months have also shown a positive export outlook.
At the same time, the business community has focused on fostering their exports to markets where they can enjoy the advantage brought by new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs).
However, export activities will face a number of challenges in 2025, if the world’s geopolitical developments continue to be unpredictable, the ministry has warned.
Developed countries are more concerned with sustainable development issues and consumer safety, creating new standards and regulations related to supply chains, raw materials, labour and the environment, rules that are more stringent for imported products.
In addition, if the new policies of US President-elect Donald Trump come into effect, it is forecast to lead to far-reaching impacts on the world economy, including Việt Nam’s.
To achieve the set target, the ministry will continue to monitor and provide timely information to industry associations and businesses about developments in export markets so that they can promptly adjust production plans and search for market orders as well as host regular trade promotion conferences with Vietnamese trade offices abroad.
According to the ministry, it will direct Vietnamese trade offices abroad to regularly update information on market situations, regulations and standards that may affect import and export activities and recommendations to businesses and industry associations.
Meanwhile, MoIT will continue to promote advantages and incentives from FTAs to businesses to help them make good use of opportunities brought by the agreements.
The ministry said that accelerating trade promotion activities, speeding up exports through border gates and facilitating exports to the Chinese market will also be a focus.
Over the past 11 months of this year, Việt Nam’s export value expanded by 14.4 per cent to US$369.9 billion, according to the General Statistics Office.
The domestic economic sector contributed $103.9 billion to the total export value, an increase of 20 per cent on-year, while the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) generated $266 billion, up 12.4 per cent.
Up to 36 key export items each surpassed $1 billion in value, collectively accounting for 94.1 per cent of the total. Among these, seven standout products exceeded $10 billion.
During this period, the US remained Việt Nam’s largest export market with $108.9 billion.
To further increase the export value of Vietnamese goods, the GSO has proposed that ministries and branches effectively implement product traceability and improve the competitiveness of made-in-Việt Nam products in terms of prices and quality in the global market, especially for key exports.
It has also suggested the MoIT take full advantage of signed FTAs to promote exports and innovate trade promotion activities, focusing on a digital transformation programme for trade promotion activities connecting domestic and foreign supply and demand.
Việt Nam’s coffee exports possibly surpass $5 billion for first time
Coffee prices have increased by over 50% on average this year, enabling the export revenue to potentially surpass US$5 billion for the first time.
Đỗ Hà Nam, Vice President of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and Chairman and CEO of Intimex Group, considered 2024 as a special year for the coffee industry as Vietnamese coffee prices have reached the world’s highest for the first time. The export price of Robusta, accounting for some 97% of the coffee output in the country – the world’s biggest Robusta producer, is higher than that of Arabica, which is unprecedented.
Since the beginning of the year, Vietnamese coffee export prices have risen continuously.
In January, the price was just over US$3,000 per tonne, but it surged to 5,855 per tonne in October. It shot up over 90% within just 10 months.
Export prices during the first 11 months of 2024 averaged $4,037 per tonne, up 56.9% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Between January and November, the country shipped nearly 1.2 million tonnes abroad, with a revenue of $4.84 billion. Although this represented a 15.4% decrease in volume, the value still went up by 32.8% year-on-year.
Germany, Italy, and Spain are the three largest markets for Vietnamese coffee. Exports grew in all the top 15 markets, with the most significant increases seen in Malaysia and the Philippines – both more than doubling.
Việt Nam has just entered the 2024 – 2025 coffee crop year. Looking back on the 2023 – 2024 crop year, coffee exports achieved a new milestone. Despite a more than 12% decline in the export volume to 1.46 million tonnes, the revenue soared by over 33% to reach $5.43 billion, the highest revenue recorded in a single crop year and marking the first time exports exceeded $5 billion in a crop year.
VICOFA said the new harvest season began in November, with this season’s production expected to reach around 1.6 million tonnes. Domestic coffee consumption in Việt Nam is forecast to be between 270,000 and 300,000 tonnes. The rise in domestic demand, coupled with lower production, could significantly impact the supply of raw materials for export.
Meanwhile, experts noted that Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, already finished its harvest season, and its growers are currently reluctant to sell as they wait to see the next crop’s output. Therefore, the global coffee market from now through the first quarter of 2025 will depend on coffee-producing countries in the northern hemisphere, especially Việt Nam.
As a result, though the harvest season is ongoing, domestic coffee prices are still on an upward trend. Besides, farmers in the Central Highlands, the coffee farming hub of Việt Nam, are not rushing to sell due to good revenues from other high-priced farm produce like durian and pepper.
VICOFA are confident in many advantages for Vietnamese coffee exports thanks to increased supply from the new harvest season 2024 – 2025 and high export prices. This year’s export revenue is predicted to set a new record of $5.5 billion.
The first and most modern logistics park in Việt Nam is inaugurated
Viettel on Wednesday officially inaugurated its new logistics park in the northern province of Lạng Sơn, using the most advanced technology to reduce logistics service costs by 30-40 per cent.
Strategically located in the Đồng Đăng Border Gate Economic Zone, Viettel Logistics Park spans 143.7ha with a total investment of VNĐ3.3 trillion (US$129.6 million). It is well-positioned near national highways, expressways and railways, providing efficient cross-border transportation. The project is designed to handle 1,500 vehicles daily, effectively doubling Lạng Sơn’s current border clearance capacity, which is crucial during peak agricultural harvest seasons.
Once completed, Viettel Logistics Park will become Việt Nam’s first fully integrated logistics centre, offering a full range of services, including customs clearance, quarantine, goods inspection, transshipment, warehousing and cross-border transportation.
The park is designed to optimise operations with systems like TMS (Transport Management System), WMS (Warehouse Management System) and over 2,000 AI-powered cameras that monitor and coordinate activities.
It features an e-commerce and express delivery area equipped with an autonomous AGV robot system, which, combined with the DWS (Dynamic Weighing and Sorting) system, processes up to 600,000 parcels daily. These technologies allow for faster customs clearance, freight transport and smart warehouse management.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hồ Tiến Thiệu, Chairman of the Lạng Sơn Provincial People’s Committee, said: “The project, located in the Đồng Đăng – Lạng Sơn Border Gate Economic Zone, is a key initiative for the province. Its aim is to create a facility for the storage, preservation, classification and packaging of import and export goods in line with international standards of quality.
“The project also seeks to streamline customs clearance, improve inspection processes for imported and exported goods, and foster the development of logistics services and related supply chains. Throughout the project’s implementation, provincial leaders have shown strong support, consistently inspecting the progress, providing guidance and swiftly addressing any challenges to ensure timely completion.”
Director of the Department of Economics at the Ministry of National Defence, Major General Trần Đình Thắng, praised the Military Industry – Telecommunications Group for their prompt action, commitment and completion of the Viettel Logistics Park Project in Lạng Sơn. He emphasised that this achievement would significantly contribute to facilitating the export of goods, including agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, from Việt Nam into the Chinese market.
Viettel Post, which owns and operates all the software used at the park, has integrated TMS, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and WMS technologies. These systems ensure efficient customs clearance, transport management and warehouse operations, streamlining the entire logistics process.
In addition to its technological innovations, the park includes a trading centre for agricultural products from Việt Nam, China, Thailand and other regional countries. The post-harvest preservation system helps maintain product quality while awaiting customs clearance, improving market opportunities for farmers and adding value to their goods.
General Director of Viettel Post Hoàng Trung Thành, said: “Viettel Logistics Park is a key project in Viettel Group’s broader strategy to enhance Việt Nam’s logistics infrastructure. It aims to position Việt Nam as a logistics hub for Southeast Asia, connecting ASEAN with China. The park is expected to be fully operational by 2030, processing up to 561,000 trucks annually, significantly improving cross-border logistics efficiency.”
The park’s Phase 1, covering 58ha, will be completed by December 2024, with a capacity to process 336,000 trucks per year, or 930 trucks daily. Over time, it will contribute to reducing customs clearance times by 40 per cent, improving warehouse efficiency by 30 per cent, and lowering warehouse management costs by 25 per cent.
Viettel’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the park’s design, which follows green industrial park standards. More than 3,000 trees have been planted, and energy-efficient technologies have been incorporated to minimise environmental impact.
Viettel has worked closely with the General Department of Customs, the Management Board of the Đồng Đăng – Lạng Sơn Border Gate Economic Zone, and international consultants to ensure the park meets international operational standards.
Talking about Viettel’s vision for developing national logistics infrastructure, Major General Tào Đức Thắng, Chairman and General Director of Viettel said: ” Viettel will complete a nationwide network of logistics centres, catering to key economic regions. This initiative will be guided by five key aspects: smart border gates, agricultural logistics centres, logistics hubs within industrial parks, supply chain infrastructure and a multimodal transport network. Our goal is to create a smart, automated, multimodal logistics ecosystem that spans road, rail, waterways and aviation. This will contribute to positioning Việt Nam as a major logistics hub in the region, in line with the objectives outlined in Resolution No 13-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee, which highlights the importance of logistics infrastructure in connecting and enhancing the efficiency of the economy.”
He added: “Logistics is not just about transporting goods; it’s about transporting opportunities and shaping the future. With a commitment to continuous technological innovation for sustainable development, Viettel will remain dedicated to supporting the country’s progress.”