Vietnam Economic Pulse (VEP) has sustained the recovery from Covid-19 to create the prospects for growth in 2023. Finally, the real GDP growth in 2022 reached 8.02% (General Statistics Office of Vietnam). It is the highest among major countries in the Asia Pacific region. Vietnam economic conditions have improved dramatically. The GDP per capita obtained $US 4,110.  Thanks are due to an effective and universal Covid-19 vaccination program, and a flexible policy response, the domestic economy has rebounded strongly from the last quarter of 2021.

Vietnam is anticipated to be placed among the top 15 with the largest GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP) in Asia this year, according to the latest projections made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Vietnam agriculture sector has increased by 3.36 percent as compared to 2021; including crop products and husbandry of 2.88% [1.51% and 5.93%, respectively], forestry of 6.13% and fishery of 4.43%.

The export turnover of agriculture obtained $US 53,22 billion (9.3% increased) with its trade surplus of 9.3%. It included agro-products ($ 22.59 billion), husbandry products ($0.400 billion), aqua-products ($10.92 billion) and processed wood & furniture products ($16.92 billion).

The communes reached their standard promotion of new rural offered 73.06%, with 255 districts got this standard.

The crop product value obtained VND 104.2 million per ha (0.6% increased), it means $US 4,400 per ha roughly.

Rice growing areas developed 7.09 million ha with rice production of 42.7 million T and average yield of 6.01 t/ha (0.05 T decreased). The high quality rice varieties covered 79% growing areas. The milled rice export of 7.172 million T, obtained its turnover value of $US 3.49 billion.

Maize growing area is 0.89 million ha (1.60% decreased) with average yield of 4.97 t/ha. Total maize production gained 4.41 million T. Especially, maize import obtained the value of USD 3.33 billion for livestock.

Soybean growing area is 32,500 ha (11.8% decreased) with the production of 52,200 T (11.9% decreased) and its yield obtained 1.60 T/ha. In 2022, soybean import obtained the volume of 1.84 million ton, with the value of USD 1.28 billion for livestock.

Cassava growing area is 530,110 ha (1.1% increased); with the average yield of 20.08 T/Ha and total production of 10.65 million T (0.8% increased). The export turnover of cassava products obtained the value of USD 1.376 billion with the volume of 3,168 T. Sweet potato growing area is 86,410 ha to obtained 969,100 million T, with the average yield of 11.22 t/ha.

Groundnut growing area covered 159,200 ha (3.7% decreased) with the production of 409,600 T (4.8% decreased) and average yield of 2.57 t/ha.

Vegetable growing areas extended to 988,690 ha (21,700 ha increased) with the production of 18.68 million T (2.9% increased). The export turnover of vegetable obtained $USD 1.175 billion.

Fruit orchards developed 1.205 million ha (41,300 ha increased). The export turnover of fruit obtained $ 2.163 billion to form the total value of USD 3.34 billion for both vegetable and fruit products.  Mango production offerred 1.022 million ton (2.25% increased); dragon fruit of 1.197 million ton (13.7% decraesed); pomelo of 1.1 million ton (6.73% increased); litchi of 376,000 ton (1.2% increased); durian of 836,300 ton (24.1% increased); pineapple of 738,000 ton (1.65% increased); banana of 2.48 million ton (5.5% increased).

Coffee growing areas is 709,600 ha (3,000 ha increased) including 650,000 ha harvested. Coffee bean production offered 1.896 million T (25,000 T decreased). The export turnover of coffee offered $US 4.06 billion due to its increased global price with the volume of 1.78 million T.

Tea growing area is 123,700 ha (1,000 ha increased) including 111,000 ha harvested. The total production obtained 1.109 million T (9,500 T increased) with the productivity of 9.88 t/ha. The export turnover of tea gained $US 237 million with the volume of 146,000 T.

Rubber area is 929,500 Ha (500 ha decreased) including 745,000 ha harvested. Average yield: 1.71 t/ha. Total latex production obtained 1.29 million T (2,200 ton increased). The export turnover of rubber obtained $US 3.314 billion with the volume of 2.143 million T.

Cashew nut cultivated area is 311,600 ha (2,700 ha decreased) including 295,000 ha harvested. The total production obtained 335,500 T (63,700 T decreased) with productivity of 0.95 t/ha. The export turnover of cashew nut products offered $US 3.073 billion with the volume of 517,000 T.

Black pepper growing areas are promoted over 119,900 ha (5,500 ha decreased) including 112,500 ha harvested. Its productivity offerred 2.40 t/ha. Total production gained 269,900 T (6,700 T decreased). Pepper export obtained the volume of 231,986 T including black berry of 201,995 T and white berry of 29,993 T. The export turnover of black pepper offered $US 985.3 million. Its domestic price was still low.

Sugarcane has become stable with 167,900 Ha cultivated area to obtain roughly 10.99 million T, average yield obtained 65.47 t/ha. It produced 745,000 T sugar (11.8% cane increased and 8.3% sugar increased).

Coconut growing area has been recovered with the figure of 250,000 ha at the big farms from Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Binh Dinh (70, 13 and 12.5 thousand ha, respectively). At Ben Tre, its productivity reached 9,570 nuts per year with production of 630 million nuts. In 2022, its export turnover of $US 900 million (the 4^th rank in the world).

HUSBANDRY: Total meat product production obtained 7.05 million T including 5.9% and 4.5% increased of pork and poultry meat, respectively. Fresh milk product gained 1.28 million tonnes (10.2% increased). Egg products got 18.3 billion units (4.4% increased).

Beaf, pork and poultry meat obtained 474.3, 4,425 and 2,028 thousand T. However, feedstock gained 20 million T (8.6% decreased).

There are 2.28 million heads of buffalo and 6.53 million heads of bovine in the country. In addition, 335,000 milky cows produced their milk products of 1.28 million T.

There are 28.6 million heads of pig, which produced 4.43 million T of meat.  

There are 531 million heads of poultry (4.5% meat increased) including 426.5 million of chicken.

Honeybee production effort reached to 28,000 T. Cocoon silk product offered 17,500 T. Swallow nest products gained 90 T.

The export turnover of husbandry products gained US$ 400 million.

AQUA-PRODUCTION obtained 9.03 million T (2.7% increased). Culture products gained 5.16 million T (6.3% increased) with 1.3 million ha. Pangasius fish covered 5,700 ha; then brackish shrimp of 737,000 ha; lobster and other sea products of 9 million  square meters. Nature products obtained 3.86 million T (1.8% decreased) including from ocean of 3.66 million T and from inland of 0.198 million T.

Brackish shrimp culture developed in 737,000 ha with 1.08 million T. Pangasius fish production obtained 1.62 million T (5.7 thousand ha).

The total turnover offered $USD 10.92 billion (23.8% increased) including shrimp and Pangasius of $4.33 B (13% increased) and $2.35 B (70% increased), respectively. Especially, tuna export obtained its new record of $US one billion (34% increased as compared to 2021).

FORESTRY: In 2022, thanks are due to well-managed varieties, newly reforested areas reached to 300,000 Ha. There are 116 million scatter trees growing in 2022. The forest covers 42.02%. Wood production from economic forests was 19.7 million cubic meters (1.3 million m³ increased). Total forest product turnover is $USD 16.92 billion, including cinnamon, processed wood and rattan-bamboo of $US 270, $16,350 and $860 million, respectively.

Eighty five thousand hectares of forests were standarded as FSC certication (establishing the total number of 399,000 ha).

Salt-marsh areas developed 11,000 ha including industrial processing salt production of 3,600 ha. Salt production obtained 885,000 T including industrial salt of 335,000 T

AGRO-INDUSTRY: Agro-product processing industry has been quickly developed with hi-technology, multi-value integration to meet the demand of added value strategy.  New agro-factory number reached 55 units with VND 46,425 billion.

Mechanization on land preparation accounted for 98% (rice, sugarcane, maize, vegetable, etc.); then harvesting of 80%, cultural practices of 65%, pesticide & fungicide spraying of 92%.

Domestic consumption: thanks are due to the e-trading network as Alibaba, Amazon, Sendo, Voso, Shopee and the super market as Big C, AEON, Hapro, Vinmart with their high reputation to enhance the domestic consumption successfully. In particular, litchi, fish, banana and fish products, etc. were smoothly consumed under Covid 19 influence. Particularly, soy milk made in Vietnam by VINASOY has covered 92.2% domestic market according to Nielsen data in 2022. The product presented at 1,000 shops, supermarkets in Asia roughly.

COOPERATIVE ECOCOMY: In 2022, there are 980 new modern cooperatives to raise the total 21,000 (65% effective units), which belong to 94 Unions of agro-cooperative farms (coops). Two thousand cooperatives applied hi-technolgy, digital conversion. There are 2,297 coops, which became entrepreneurs; beside that 145 coops directly exported their products.

In 2022, There are 821 new agro- entrepreneurs, to get the total number of 14,995 units in the country (9.8% increased). Hi-tech agriculture has been promoted at Nafoods, TH, Dabaco Việt Nam, Masan, Lavifood, Đồng Giao, Biển Đông, etc...

The objectives in 2023

Agriculture growth will get 3.0%. The total agro-exporting turnover will obtain USD 54 billion. The new rural commune number will reach to 78% in the whole country and clean water use percentage at household level of 57%. Forest coverage will be maintained as 42.02% but enhance more forest quality rarer than replanted forest quantity. Vietnam will try to get rid of the curse of the crop and switch to an agricultural economy, to give up the business mindset and go for the long haul. “If changing one mindset changes a life, changing one's approach will see a change in value” Le Minh Hoan (Minister) said.

Vietnam will not celebrate victory too soon while the growth rate in 2022 was impressive. We would pay more attention how to maintain a long-term vision.

Prof. Dr. Bui Chi Buu

January 2023

(All statistical figures are highlighted from the MARD review in January, 2023, and the General Statistics Office ).