Vietnam coffee exports rise 47%
HANOI - Vietnam has so far this year exported 806,000 tonnes of coffee worth US$533 million, a year-on-year increase of 47% in volume and 41% in value, according to the Vietnam Coffee-Cacao Association (VICOFA). In 2004, the country's coffee sector showed signs of recovery as coffee prices in the world picked up after the 2000-03 crisis.Vietnam's coffee products have been exported to 59 countries and territories with Germany and the US being the largest markets.
Since 2000, the country has become the world's second biggest coffee exporter after Brazil and equal to Columbia but leading in Robusta coffee exports. VICOFA said Vietnam has the highest coffee output in the world. However, its quality is not high. The sector has applied many measures to improve its products' quality and increase its competitiveness, focusing on reallocating growing areas, changing seedling and farming techniques, managing produce collection and storage, and expanding outlets.
The Central Highlands, the southeastern, the central and the northern midland regions in Vietnam have natural conditions conducive to growing coffee. The country's coffee acreages have developed rapidly with 13,000 hectares and an output of 6,000 tonnes in 1975, and 500,000 hectares and 700,000 tonnes at present. Coffee ranks second among the country's exported farm produce after rice, earning annual export revenue of more than $500 million.
The coffee sector has selected suitable areas for growing Robusta and Arabica coffee and turned ineffective areas into other crops in order to maintain the current annual output of between 750,000-800,000 tonnes. The sector has successfully applied many scientific techniques in selecting seedlings, nursery and post harvest, which have benefited the economy and the environment.
The Trade Ministry plans to speed up the dissemination of information and forecasts to assist exporters, particularly coffee exporters. The ministry will also support VICOFA and coffee exporters in finding new outlets, diversifying sales channels and improving foreign trade skills for coffee exporters.
Vietnam News Agency - November 23, 2004
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