Illustrative image (Photo: baolaicai.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) –Vietnam witnessed a slight reduction in cassava exports during the first twomonths of this year due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, accordingto the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In the first two months of 2020, cassava exports reached 383,000 tonnes,earning 127 million USD, down 0.06 percent in volume and 0.16 percent in valueover the same period last year. Of which, exports in February totalled 171,000tonnes, earning 54 million USD.
The average export price of cassava was estimated at 332 USD per tonne in thefirst two months, a year on year reduction of 10 percent.
In terms of product structure, fresh cassava chip exports were estimated at130,000 tonnes, earning $27 million, up 39.6 percent in volume and 72.2 percentin value over the same period last year.
Cassava starch exports were estimated at 253,000 tonnes in volume and 101million USD in value. The export volume fell by 19.5 percent year on year butthe export value rose by 25.6 percent.
China continued to be the largest market for Vietnamese cassava, accounting for93 percent of total cassava exports in the first two months. However, thecassava exports to China decreased by 21.1 percent in volume and 25.1 percentin value over the same period of last year.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic,China has extended the closure of border markets and continued to suspend thetrading activities of border residents. That has had a great impact on thecassava exports from Vietnam to China, the ministry said.
Next months, the cassava exports to China will continue to be quiet becauseChina’s cassava demand is not expected to increase during the epidemic.
Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of MARD's Agricultural ProductProcessing and Market Development Department, predicted this year cassavaexports from Vietnam to China will face fierce competition from other countriessuch as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
In addition, China has strengthened strict control on labelling, packaging andborder trade, Toản said. Meanwhile, China this year will continue to reduce thevalue-added tax on imported cassava starch from 13 percent to 10 percent toencourage imports via contracts to China.
However, Toan said Vietnam would have opportunities to boost cassava export toChina because Chinese enterprises have little cassava inventory and the USalcohol supply for this market has reduced due to the high import duty of 45 percent.
On the other hand, China would increase demand for ethanol to 10 million tonnesthis year, so it increases imports of cassava chips.
According to Nguyen Van Lang, Chairman of the Vietnam Cassava Association, theoutput of raw cassava in the 2019-20 crop is expected to decrease by 50 percentcompared to the previous crop due to the disease of cassava trees.
That has led to lack of raw cassava material and also lower quality of thismaterial, Lang said. The cassava production industry needs to control varietiesof cassava to reduce the disease and improve quality.
In addition, the association has proposed to the ministry and localities tomanage cassava development planning, supplying enough cassava for the domesticmarket.
According to the association, Vietnam now has 120 cassava starch processingfactories with a total capacity of over 15.5 million tonnes, while the totalannual output of 8.8 million tonnes of fresh cassava.
The shortage of material has led many cassava processing enterprises to facedifficulties in processing and business.
In 2019, the cassava exports reached 2.5 million tonnes in volume and 973million USD in value. The exports rose by 3.2 percent in volume and 1.6 percentin value compared to 2018.
The cassava exports to mainland China accounted for 89.2 percent of Vietnam’s totaloverseas cassava shipments. It was followed by the Republic of Korea, Taiwan,Malaysia and the Philippines./.
In the first two months of 2020, cassava exports reached 383,000 tonnes,earning 127 million USD, down 0.06 percent in volume and 0.16 percent in valueover the same period last year. Of which, exports in February totalled 171,000tonnes, earning 54 million USD.
The average export price of cassava was estimated at 332 USD per tonne in thefirst two months, a year on year reduction of 10 percent.
In terms of product structure, fresh cassava chip exports were estimated at130,000 tonnes, earning $27 million, up 39.6 percent in volume and 72.2 percentin value over the same period last year.
Cassava starch exports were estimated at 253,000 tonnes in volume and 101million USD in value. The export volume fell by 19.5 percent year on year butthe export value rose by 25.6 percent.
China continued to be the largest market for Vietnamese cassava, accounting for93 percent of total cassava exports in the first two months. However, thecassava exports to China decreased by 21.1 percent in volume and 25.1 percentin value over the same period of last year.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic,China has extended the closure of border markets and continued to suspend thetrading activities of border residents. That has had a great impact on thecassava exports from Vietnam to China, the ministry said.
Next months, the cassava exports to China will continue to be quiet becauseChina’s cassava demand is not expected to increase during the epidemic.
Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of MARD's Agricultural ProductProcessing and Market Development Department, predicted this year cassavaexports from Vietnam to China will face fierce competition from other countriessuch as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
In addition, China has strengthened strict control on labelling, packaging andborder trade, Toản said. Meanwhile, China this year will continue to reduce thevalue-added tax on imported cassava starch from 13 percent to 10 percent toencourage imports via contracts to China.
However, Toan said Vietnam would have opportunities to boost cassava export toChina because Chinese enterprises have little cassava inventory and the USalcohol supply for this market has reduced due to the high import duty of 45 percent.
On the other hand, China would increase demand for ethanol to 10 million tonnesthis year, so it increases imports of cassava chips.
According to Nguyen Van Lang, Chairman of the Vietnam Cassava Association, theoutput of raw cassava in the 2019-20 crop is expected to decrease by 50 percentcompared to the previous crop due to the disease of cassava trees.
That has led to lack of raw cassava material and also lower quality of thismaterial, Lang said. The cassava production industry needs to control varietiesof cassava to reduce the disease and improve quality.
In addition, the association has proposed to the ministry and localities tomanage cassava development planning, supplying enough cassava for the domesticmarket.
According to the association, Vietnam now has 120 cassava starch processingfactories with a total capacity of over 15.5 million tonnes, while the totalannual output of 8.8 million tonnes of fresh cassava.
The shortage of material has led many cassava processing enterprises to facedifficulties in processing and business.
In 2019, the cassava exports reached 2.5 million tonnes in volume and 973million USD in value. The exports rose by 3.2 percent in volume and 1.6 percentin value compared to 2018.
The cassava exports to mainland China accounted for 89.2 percent of Vietnam’s totaloverseas cassava shipments. It was followed by the Republic of Korea, Taiwan,Malaysia and the Philippines./.
VNA
