The export value of coconuts and coconut products is forecast to reach one billion USD, even higher by 2024.
Coconut has been grown in Vietnam for a long time. But the Vietnamese coconut industry has only been included in national programs since 2010 with the establishment of the Vietnam Coconut Association to study and propose support activities for the development of the industry; timely advise relevant ministries and branches on policies and orientations of the coconut industry. The good news is that since the establishment of this association, the promotion of coconut products has continuously prospered.
Coconuts are exported to many countries.
At the second National Congress of Delegates, period 2023-2028 of the Vietnam Coconut Association, on October 28, Mr. Cao Ba Dang Khoa – Deputy General Secretary of the Association – said: After the first Ben Tre Coconut Festival in January 2009, the Vietnam Coconut Association was established.
Also in 2009, the Vietnam Coconut Association was officially born in the context that the coconut industry was weak with simple processing technology and the value of coconut had not been fully exploited. So the ministries did not know the economic value of coconut. The export turnover of coconuts at that time was just over 100,000 USD.
According to Mr. Cao Ba Dang Khoa, with a total area of nearly 200,000 ha, coconut is now a source of income for nearly 390,000 farmers. In 2022, the export turnover of coconut products and coconut-related products reached 940 million USD.
Mr. Khoa said that in the first months of 2023, the economic situation was difficult, causing the coconut industry to decline seriously. However, in the second and third quarters of 2023, the coconut industry received a lot of good news when coconuts were officially exported to the US and some European countries. Besides, China is actively considering Vietnam’s coconuts to enter the world’s second-largest market.
Statistics from the Vietnam Coconut Association show that Vietnam currently has 90 coconut and coconut-related enterprises, including 42 enterprises producing coconut products. In particular, the community of the coconut industry has boldly invested in technology and organic material growing areas. Many coconut farms of hundreds of ha were established in Tay Ninh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Binh Dinh, etc opening up opportunities for export growth in the coming time.
The new Executive Committee of the Vietnam Coconut Association in 2023-2028.
The Vietnam Coconut Association forecasts that the export value of coconuts and coconut products will reach one billion USD, even higher by 2024.
To achieve the above figure, the Vietnam Coconut Association is promoting the brand-building plan for the industry, affirming the brand of coconut products in the market. In addition, the coconut industry is making efforts to support businesses and localities to build a standard material area, heading to form a “Coconut Map” across the country to serve as a data source for investors and businesses to refer to and support the industry to develop.
In addition, the coconut industry strongly performs trade promotion and supports businesses to participate in fairs, exhibitions, and domestic and foreign trade events to look for customers and access new machinery and technologies towards improving the value chain of the coconut industry and sustainable export.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh – President of the Vietnam Coconut Association, the biggest goal of the Association is to turn the coconut industry into a spearhead production and export industry; and maximize the efficiency of improving the economic value of coconut products.
Therefore, Ms. Thanh said that the Association will continue to build a standard material area, heading to form a coconut map across the country as data for investors and businesses to refer to and support the coconut industry to develop.
“The Vietnam Coconut Association will accompany farmers in cultivation, harvest, and processing to contribute to stabilizing coconut prices. In addition, the Association will support enterprises to improve competitiveness, develop markets, and affirm product brands in domestic and foreign markets “ Ms. Thanh said./.