On the afternoon of March 7th, in Quy Nhon City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province and the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association, organized a conference to assess opportunities, challenges, and propose solutions to achieve the wood and forest products export target for 2025.
Attending the conference were Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hung, representative of the Forestry and Forest Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment); Mr. Cao Chi Cong, Vice President of the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association; and leaders from central ministries and agencies, wood industry associations, and domestic and foreign wood processing and export businesses. Representing Binh Dinh province were the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, representatives from various departments and agencies, the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association, and businesses in the province.
In 2024, Vietnam's wood industry maintained stable growth. Exports of wood and forest products are estimated to reach US$17.15 billion, an increase of 19.11% compared to 2023, exceeding the plan by 12.81%. Imports reached US$2.74 billion, an increase of 26.21%. The trade surplus is estimated at US$14.41 billion, an increase of 17.15%.
In particular, Binh Dinh province alone achieved wood export turnover of nearly 1.1 billion USD (an increase of 151% compared to 2023, accounting for approximately 621% of the province's total export turnover).
However, as we enter 2025, the timber industry is projected to face numerous challenges, such as trade barriers and increasingly stringent traceability requirements from major markets like the EU and the US. This conference aims to find comprehensive solutions to help the timber industry develop sustainably and meet international standards.
At the conference, representatives from wood processing businesses from Binh Dinh, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City shared their difficulties in accessing stable raw material sources, rising logistics costs, and technical barriers when exporting to Europe and the United States.
Mr. Le Van Luong, Director of Dai Thanh Wood Technology Joint Stock Company (Binh Dinh), said: “Export-oriented wood processing businesses are facing many pressures regarding capital, rising input costs, while demand in some major markets such as the US and EU is showing signs of slowing down. We hope the Government will have more practical support policies regarding taxes and credit to help the wood industry maintain its growth momentum, and at the same time, there needs to be preferential credit support policies for businesses to invest in modern machinery and expand the area of certified raw materials.”
Besides the challenges, delegates also noted that the Vietnamese wood industry still has many opportunities as the global demand for wooden furniture continues to increase. Businesses need to focus on building sustainable supply chains, promoting green production, and strengthening linkages to enhance product value.
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan emphasized: "First, I would like to welcome the businesses, associations, and stakeholders who have attended today's conference." The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated that Vietnam in general and Binh Dinh in particular have great advantages in forest resources, but for sustainable development, the Vietnam Wood Association needs to build a clear strategy, specifically identifying market demand and avoiding oversupply crises. We need to effectively exploit the domestic market with over 100 million people, while carefully assessing the risks from policies and perceptions of importing countries to make timely adjustments.
Secondly, building a seamless and specialized supply chain is a pressing requirement, ensuring efficiency and competitiveness from raw materials to production and distribution.
Thirdly, the timber industry needs to adhere closely to government policies, especially the development of large-scale timber forests to ensure a stable supply of raw materials, while also leveraging the carbon credit market. Product quality and price must be prioritized, especially as the trend of shifting timber production to Vietnam is evident – this is an opportunity for us to enhance our competitiveness.
On the provincial side, the Provincial People's Committee is committed to creating all favorable conditions, encouraging businesses to embrace green transformation, apply modern technology, and support large investors in building closed-loop supply chains in the locality. In particular, the wood industry needs to undergo significant changes to adapt to the new context. We are ready to work tirelessly and promptly address reasonable proposals from businesses. The head of the provincial government called on businesses and associations to boldly innovate, inspiring the next generation of leaders, so that the wood industry not only develops today but also remains strong in the future.
This conference is expected to open up new avenues, helping the Vietnamese wood and forestry industry in general, and Binh Dinh in particular, overcome challenges and seize opportunities to achieve sustainable export goals in 2025 and beyond.
Author: Trang Le (https://binhdinh.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao/hoi-nghi-danh-gia-co-hoi-thach-thuc-va-ban-giai-phap-thuc-day-xuat-khau-go-va-lam-san-nam-2025.html)
