Exporters sprinting to fulfil orders

Export companies are gearing up their production shifts to fulfil export orders for 2009. However, keeping busy makes them happy.

Increasing export volume to offset price decreases

Rice export record made in 2009Vietnam expects to export six million tonnes of rice this year, the highest ever.

Workers at the Minh Phu Seafood Company are very busy these days making their last-of-the-year export consignments to South Korea and Japan.

Minh Phu’s General Director Le Van Quang said that the export price for frozen shrimp had dropped dramatically earlier this year due to the global financial crisis. The export price has gone up by 10 percent for South Korean and Japanese markets and five percent for the US market over the last few months. However, processing companies are facing a materials shortage. Though Minh Phu expects to export 20 percent more than planned, it will reap160 million dollars in turnover, the same as 2008.

Truong Dinh Hoe, Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that Vietnam had aimed to export 4.5 billion dollars worth of products, but then had reduced that to 4.4 billion dollar due to economic difficulties. However, total export turnover will be 4.2 billion in 2009.

Footwear producers are worried, though they already have orders. They still do not know if the 10 percent anti-dumping duty imposed on leather capped shoes shipped to the EU will be removed or not

Fruits, tea going for good prices

Farm produce has seen most satisfactory export turnover this year. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, Vinafruits, export revenue dropped by 20-30 percent in the first six months of the year. However, more orders came in later months. Vinafruits’ Secretary General Nguyen Van Ky believes that as the market has recovered of late the vegetable and fruit export turnover in 2009 may reach 400 million dollars, on par with 2008

Tea exporters have had a satisfactory year thanks to changes in consumers’ taste and a decrease in supply. By the end of November revenue stood at 159 million dollars.

Meanwhile, garment exporters firmly believe that revenue will stand at one billion dollars by December, raising garment export revenue to nine billion dollars for 2009.

2010 will be more satisfactory

Most of Vietnamese businesses believe that 2010 will be an improvement as the world economy recovers.

Some sectors are still bracing for a storm. Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Plastics Association Pham Trung Cang worries that the export revenue in 2010 may decrease when an anti-dumping duty of 52 percent will hit PE Bags

However, other businesses are optimistic about prospects in 2010, especially seafood exporters, who believe that the export prices will remain high for at least the first five months of 2010. Garment exporters also retain some cheer; they have orders until the end of the second quarter of 2010.

VietNamNet/TT

Tags: Vietnam exports