PAN Group agro-products are ready to conquer Chinese consumers

With the mission of "nourishing the world," PAN Group will not miss the opportunity to collaborate and trade with partners in the country of 1.4 billion people and will continue to position Vietnamese agricultural products in global markets.

PAN's Products on Chinese supermarket shelves

In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China has been continually strengthened. Economic and trade cooperation has seen positive growth, consistently achieving new records.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, China has continuously maintained its status as Vietnam's largest trading partner, while Vietnam is currently China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the sixth largest globally. The growth rate of bilateral trade over the past decade has consistently been in double digits.

In agriculture, China is the largest and most important market for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports, with 14 key agricultural products exported officially.

In the first nine months of 2024, the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products reached $ 46.28 billion, an increase of 21%, with China being Vietnam's second-largest export market, accounting for nearly 21% of the total.

During the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Vietnam from October 12 to 14, PAN Group had the opportunity to introduce Vietnamese-branded agricultural products to Premier Li and other senior leaders.

Both Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Premier Li Qiang appreciated PAN Group's efforts in exporting Vietnamese agricultural and food products to China and more than 40 other markets worldwide.

Additionally, during the visit, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao exchanged two cooperation documents on agricultural economics and trade. This is expected to open up many opportunities for agricultural and food enterprises.

With hundreds of agricultural, fishery, and food products, PAN Group sees the market of over 1.4 billion people as having special appeal. Many PAN members have successfully exported products to this market.

One notable success story is that of Bibica Joint Stock Company, which overcame the rigorous testing standards of Walmart China to secure its first order, supplying candy products to this retail chain.

Nguyen Quoc Hoang, General Director of Bibica, shared: “After thorough research, we found that the Chinese market is suitable for developing fresh cakes with a short shelf life and nutritious cakes that are good for health, especially for diabetics...”.

With its large population and geographic proximity to Vietnam, China has the potential to be a promising market for Bibica's confectionery in the near future.

Another member of PAN Group, Long An Export Processing Company (Lafooco), has also collaborated with major supermarket chains in China, such as Sungiven Foods since 2014; Lotus Supermarket and Vanguard since 2018; and CP Group China since 2023, along with several importers to distribute flavoured cashew products and dried fruits.

From 2014 to 2023, Lafooco's export sales to China reached nearly $ 29 million, with a significant proportion coming from value-added products. Although the export volume and revenue remain modest, the company is actively seeking opportunities to expand its export scale in this promising market.

Opportunities Ahead

In addition to success in the food sector, PAN Group's agriculture and aquaculture enterprises are also planning collaborations with numerous Chinese partners, opening up new opportunities in the near future.

Specifically, at the end of July, a working delegation from the Vietnam Seed Group (Vinaseed), a member of PAN Group, signed a cooperation agreement with the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) in China to enhance collaboration and technology transfer. Vinaseed will be prioritized for the transfer of production and business rights for certain food corn varieties and vegetable seeds in the coming years. Additionally, both parties agreed to collaborate on human resource training.

Through meetings with Chinese partners, Vinaseed hopes to seek collaboration opportunities and grasp market trends related to food corn in the near future, thus creating a fresh impetus for the food corn market in Vietnam.

Alongside the close ties in agriculture, Vietnam and China also engage in significant trade cooperation in the aquaculture sector. Data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) shows that in the first nine months of 2024, shrimp exports to mainland China and Hong Kong reached 529 million USD, a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Thus, China has surpassed the United States to become the largest consumer market for Vietnamese shrimp.

Seizing the trend of high-quality, value-added products, Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company (Fimex VN) has also initiated plans to export shrimp to the Chinese market. Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of Sao Ta, stated that the company has the largest farming area in Vietnam's shrimp industry, certified by ASC for the European market, allowing it to meet the increasing demands of the Chinese market.

Furthermore, the company can leverage its value-added shrimp advantages in this market, differentiating itself from competitors in India and Ecuador.

Sao Ta has already begun preparations for exporting shrimp to China. As the standards for quality and payment regulations in this market are finalized, Sao Ta is ready to accelerate its expansion.

China is Vietnam's top trading partner, especially in the agriculture, aquaculture, and food sectors. PAN Group offers a wide range of high-quality agricultural and food products that are favoured by consumers in over 40 global markets, including shrimp, tra fish, rice, coffee, cashew nuts, dried fruits, and confectionery. With the mission of "nurturing the world," PAN Group will not miss opportunities for cooperation and trade with partners in a market of 1.4 billion people and will continue to position Vietnamese agricultural brands in global markets.