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Agricultural industry

Unlocking Bilateral Agricultural Trade Potential: Vietnam-UK Relations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A roundtable discussion in London on May 13 brought together government officials, industry leaders, and businesses to explore the current state, demand, and growth potential of bilateral agricultural trade between Vietnam and the UK. The event attracted representatives from 40 enterprises and UK agricultural associations, focusing on key export sectors, Vietnam's poultry industry potential, consumer preferences, and strategies for distributing Vietnamese food and produce in UK supermarket chains.

Key Takeaways:

  • Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam emphasized the need for both sides to ensure regulatory compliance in import-export activities and called for regular business-matching events, supply chain-linked business clusters, and enhanced trade promotion and market research.
  • Phuong Hoang, President of the Vietnamese Business Association in the UK (VBUK), highlighted Vietnam's strengths in fruit, seafood, and processed food exports, which are increasingly popular in global and British markets.
  • Executive Director of the British Coffee Association Paul Rooke praised the quality of Vietnamese coffee and highlighted the importance of understanding UK import requirements, including environmental standards, anti-deforestation rules, and fair trade practices.
  • Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, Product Development Manager at Longdan Group, shared insights on marketing strategies, such as retaining local product names for better brand recognition and combining digital marketing with in-store sampling to introduce Vietnamese specialty fruits to British consumers.
  • Thai Tran, CEO of TT Meridian Ltd, credited the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) for giving Vietnamese agriculture a competitive edge but warned that this advantage could diminish as the UK signs more bilateral trade deals.
  • The UK is seen as a high-potential market for Vietnamese agricultural exports, with an annual agri-food import value of 67 billion USD, and Vietnam's agri-export turnover to the UK reached nearly 883 million USD in 2024, a 15.4% year-on-year increase.

Statistics:

  • 40 enterprises and UK agricultural associations participated in the roundtable discussion.
  • Vietnam's poultry industry potential was discussed as a key export sector.
  • Vietnam's strengths in fruit, seafood, and processed food exports were highlighted, which are increasingly popular in global and British markets.
  • The quality of Vietnamese coffee was praised by Executive Director of the British Coffee Association Paul Rooke.
  • UK's annual agri-food import value: 67 billion USD.
  • Vietnam's agri-export turnover to the UK in 2024: 883 million USD, a 15.4% year-on-year increase.

Sources:

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