Craft exporters enjoy sales boost

Viet Nam’s craft gift suppliers are gearing up for robust sales growth for the remainder of the year, after weathering a challenging export climate last year, according to Kearny Alliance, a US-based non-profit organisation that helps businesses in developing countries.

“As major export markets show signs of recovery, Viet Nam craft gift suppliers are confident of seeing stronger demand,” said Vu Ngoc Khiem, programme manager of the Developing Country Export Assistance Programme.

“In fact, 90 per cent of the suppliers interviewed in our survey expect export sales to increase by at least 10 per cent over the next 12 months.”

Sixty per cent of suppliers will target the EU market, the Kearny Alliance survey showed.

More than 70 per cent of craft gift producers have maintained prices through lower margins to attract buyers worldwide.

They have combined a variety of locally available materials to differentiate their products from competitors’.

Nguyen Huy Thong, sales manager of Ngoc Dong Ha Nam Company, said: “We are focusing on pressed bamboo by using semi-automatic machines to reduce labour costs, and we have combined bamboo with woven rattan to offer competitive quotes with unique designs.”

Khiem said the survey showed that export prices ranged from less than 30US cents to above $20, depending on type of material and design.

“Fifty-six per cent of the featured suppliers are releasing new models in the coming months.”

The total capacity of featured suppliers is 820,000 pieces per month, of which exports account for more than 50 per cent.

The survey is part of the Viet Nam Sourcing Report: Craft Gifts, which is one of a series of emerging market sourcing reports published by Kearny Alliance.

The report covers profiles of 34 manufacturers, and contains descriptions, prices and packaging details for 105 best selling export products.

These include crafts, gifts and novelties made of wood, bamboo, ceramic, glass, metal, fabric, plastic and more. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam Craft exports, Vietnam Handicraft