According to the French consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, several French meat producers have been seeking to expand business in Vietnam since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August 2020. Meat product exports to Vietnam are expected to increase at a faster pace, as import tariffs on such goods will gradually reduce to zero percent in the next ten years.
Currently, France is the ninth largest meat supplier to Vietnam, but the European nation aims to further increase its market share. It is reported that France’s meat sector offers over 450 products, some of which are already popular in Vietnam.
The French Association of Butchers and Caterers and Business French in Vietnam are conducting many activities and campaigns to accelerate meat product sales with EU sponsorship. The marketing campaigns will be executed until 2024, including store promotions that allows Vietnamese consumers to witness the manufacturing process in France.
Apart from the EU, Vietnam also purchases meat products, mostly pork, from other countries, such as the US, Russia, and South Korea. Specifically, pork imports rose from 33,000 tons in 2018 to 225,000 tons in 2020 before dropping to around 143,000 tons last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
(Source: RetailNews Asia)
