Domestic confectionary seen as potential export

Confectionery and cereal products now make up a greater proportion of Vietnam’s total export revenue, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Export earnings from confectionery and cereals products have risen from US$276 million in 2009 to almost US$293 million in 2010, making up around 0.5 percent of the nation’s total.

Vietnamese businesses have exported a wide range of confectionery and cereal products to Cambodia, China, the US, Japan, UAE, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Cambodia is now the biggest importer of Vietnamese confectionery and China is seen as a huge potential market for Vietnamese products in the near future.

Many businesses have found partners in several other countries to promote and sell their products. At present, products made by the Huu Nghi High Quality Confectionery Joint Stock Company (Huunghifood) are sold in Russia, the UK, Spain, Singapore and the US while the Bibica Corporation exports its products to more than 20 countries and territories.

Domestic sweets and biscuits have become more popular with domestic consumers, even those who prefer imported confectionery, due to their improved quality and packaging and their prices are normally 20 percent lower than imported products.

Ninety percent of the sweets and biscuits sold at supermarkets and trade centers during the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) were made in Vietnam, according to a recent survey conducted by the ministry.

The ministry has also asked businesses to focus on distributing goods in rural and border areas and to pay more attention to post-sale services and staff training.- VOV

Tags: Vietnam confectionary