Vietnam – UK: Cooperation to expand the agricultural product market

The seminar attracted the participation of various associations, enterprises, and sectors, including the Vietnam Business Association in the UK (VBUK), the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Vietnam Coffee Association, UK distribution channels and supermarket chains, along with nearly 30 Vietnamese companies engaged in the production, trading, and processing of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, as well as logistics services for agricultural import and export.

This was an opportunity for Vietnamese and UK associations and businesses to discuss and exchange information on market demand, consumer preferences, and import-export regulations. Vietnamese companies also had the chance to learn from UK partners’ experiences in exporting fruits, agricultural products, seafood, and meat to UK supermarket chains.

In addition, many leading experts contributed insightful and highly practical presentations. They also recommended that the relevant authorities of both countries strengthen cooperation and create favorable conditions to promote agricultural collaboration and improve market access for priority products.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, proposed that associations in the United Kingdom hold annual networking activities with Vietnamese enterprises and industry associations. These activities would promote UK products, expand market outreach, and foster long-term partnerships that enhance trade and market development between the two sides.

He emphasized that Vietnamese associations and enterprises should actively coordinate with UK partners to send business delegations to participate in trade promotion events, such as trade fairs, exhibitions, market surveys, and consumer behavior studies. These efforts would help introduce and position Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in the UK market, while also allowing businesses to understand better the specific demands and standards required for successful market entry.

“I recommend that agricultural product associations in both countries establish a sustainable connection through association-to-association partnerships,” Deputy Minister Nam said. “At the same time, we should form business groups along the supply chain, covering areas such as cold storage, product preservation, transportation, bonded warehouses, distribution networks, and supermarket chains, to ensure full compliance with product value chain regulations. This will help reduce logistics costs, increase efficiency, and maintain consistent product quality from production through to the final consumer.”

He also urged Vietnamese enterprises to strengthen cooperation and form joint ventures with British companies in the areas of production and processing. Doing so, he noted, would not only help meet the UK’s strict regulatory standards but also better align with local consumer preferences. “Such collaboration will open more favorable pathways for Vietnamese products to deeply penetrate UK distribution systems, supermarket networks, and even the broader Vietnamese diaspora business community in the United Kingdom,” he added.

In recent years, trade relations in the agricultural sector between Vietnam and the UK have witnessed steady and encouraging growth. Notably, in 2024 alone, Vietnam’s export turnover of agricultural products to the UK reached nearly USD 883 million, representing a robust increase of 15.4% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Vietnam’s major export strengths, such as seafood, timber and wood-based products, coffee, cashew nuts, fruits and vegetables, pepper, and a wide range of handicrafts made from traditional materials like rattan, bamboo, sedge, and carpets, are all products in high demand in the UK market. These items not only meet the UK’s quality requirements but also align well with consumer preferences.

Conversely, Vietnam also imports several key commodities from the UK, including seafood, pesticides and raw materials for plant protection, animal feed and feed ingredients, as well as rubber.

Importantly, data and market trends indicate that trade between the two countries is complementary rather than competitive. The UK market, with a population of around 70 million people, imports a substantial amount of agricultural and food products annually - approximately USD 67 billion, to meet domestic consumption needs. This highlights the UK as a highly potential market with considerable room for Vietnamese agricultural products to expand and increase market share.