Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam's wood industry has firmly established itself on the international market, with an annual export value exceeding 10 billion USD.

This positions Vietnam as the world's fifth-largest exporter of wood and wooden products, second in Asia, and leading in Southeast Asia.

However, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), emphasised the importance of maintaining this position and learning from other industries. He highlighted the example of the textile industry, where Vietnam was surpassed by Bangladesh due to slower adoption of sustainable practices.

With rapid urbanisation, Vietnam sees 70-80 million square metres of new housing constructed annually, increasing the demand for interior and exterior furniture. One crucial goal is to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese wood, furniture, and handicraft enterprises compared to foreign-invested companies. This involves shifting from Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) to Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) to increase the value of 'Made in Vietnam' products.

Khanh also pointed out that many Vietnamese companies currently operate as OEMs, manufacturing for large foreign brands. Enhancing national brand recognition is a challenge, but also a significant opportunity for domestic enterprises.

The HAWA representative noted that Vietnam's wood and wood product exports are growing, driven by positive signals from markets like the US and the EU. The US remains the largest market, accounting for 55% of Vietnam's wood export value.

Staying abreast of the latest trends in the US market is crucial for Vietnamese companies to meet consumer preferences. Despite not being in peak season, Vietnam exports 1.2-1.4 billion USD worth of wood products monthly. With current growth rates, the peak shopping season later in the year could see monthly exports reach 1.6-1.8 billion USD, aiming for a total of 17.5 billion USD in 2024.

The 'Decoding Business' talk show on July 8 in Hanoi brought together architects, designers and experts from various fields to discuss topics around the business of wood production, such as communication, branding, business, and technology in the furniture and construction sectors. This event is part of the Vietnam Interior & Build Expo (VIBE), which will take place from October 2-5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).

The VIBE expo will feature 45 product groups across eight categories relat🧸ed to interior, construction and digital services, showcasing equipment, furniture, conꦉstruction materials and smart technology solutions./.