Last year, Vietnamese timber and forest products were available in 140 countries and territories, including five traditional markets: the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and China.
Despite the COVID pandemic, in the last months of 2021, the forestry industry experienced spectacular growth, achieving an export turnover of nearly 16 billion USD and the full year trade surplus reaching nearly 13 billion USD, up 21% compared to 2020.
Tran Quang Bao, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry attributed the past year’s results to the persistent and drastic direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the engagement of scientists, businesses, and forest workers in improving forest productivity and quality and plant variety.
“The domestic source of raw materials has now met more than 70% of total needs and created a huge trade surplus in the export of wood products and furniture. The Vietnam Administration of Forestry will continue to advise on promoting concentrated afforestation, using quality seeds, and focusing on large timber afforestation and certification of sustainable forests to increase surplus value for forestry production value chains,” Mr. Bao said.