The wood industry is seeking various solutions to boost wood exports in 2024, one of which is organizing the Vietnamese Wood Products Fair to introduce more Vietnamese wood products to international customers.
According to Mr. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Processing Association (Hawa), in 2023, Vietnam’s wood export turnover reached over $13.5 billion (a 15.5% decrease compared to 2022), failing to achieve the set target for the whole year. The reasons are a sharp decrease in demand for wood products and increasingly stringent regulations in major export markets regarding the legality and sustainability of wood products (limiting formaldehyde emissions in household furniture, ensuring that wood products do not contribute to deforestation, requiring low carbon emissions, etc.)
However, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of Hawa, has shared some encouraging news for the first month of 2024. The export turnover of wood and wood products reached nearly $1.5 billion, an increase of 72.5% compared to the same period in 2023. This year’s plan is to achieve $16 billion in wood exports (a 20% increase compared to 2023). This figure is expected to be achieved as some businesses have recovered 90% of their export orders, and some even have orders until May 2024. However, customer requirements for stricter standards and constantly changing designs and competitive prices pose challenges.
“Consumption of goods in many large markets such as the US and Europe is showing positive signals, creating momentum for export orders, including wood products,” Mr. Khanh expressed his expectations.
In this context, in order to support businesses in finding orders and diversifying their customer sources, the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Processing Association (Hawa) announced that they will organize the international fair for wood and furniture – HawaExpo 2024. The event will take place from March 6th to 9th, 2024, with more than 500 exhibitors, of which over 80% are domestic production businesses in Vietnam. It is expected to attract 25,000 visitors.
In 2024, the organizers have expanded the scale three times compared to 2023, with more than 500 exhibitors, of which over 80% are domestic production businesses, and 20% are prominent wood furniture and handicraft production businesses in the ASEAN region, design units, material and accessory suppliers, as well as supporting services both domestically and internationally.
Sharing the results of connecting with customers through the fair, a furniture company said that after the HawaExpo 2023, the company signed orders with a major customer in Japan and received positive feedback from customers about Vietnam’s wood products designed by Vietnamese designers.
Mr. Khanh said that at HawaExpo 2024, there will be additional groups of interior design businesses, construction contractors, businesses producing and supplying furniture for the commercial service sector, and businesses developing technology solutions to enhance the living experience.
