Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan spoke at the seminar. Photo: VOV

On April 28, the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) held a seminar on "Enhancing competitiveness of logistics service businesses" and announced the Vietnam Import and Export Report 2021.

The Vietnam Import and Export Report 2021 highlights the positive points in international trade activities. Despite many difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the country's import and export still reached a record number with a total turnover of US$668.55 billion. Exports reached more than US$336.3 billion, up 19% compared to 2020; imports reached US$332.2 billion, up 26.5%; trade surplus of more than US$4 billion.

With this result, Vietnam has entered the top 20 economies in terms of international trade. The export structure has changed positively, and the area of export products is diversified.

The group of processed products continues to be the driving force for the overall growth of exports. Vietnam has also made efforts to diversify export and import markets to meet the needs of domestic production and consumption.

Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, deputy minister of Industry and Trade appreciated the results achieved in import and export activities in 2021, international trade activities of Vietnam.

Total import and export turnover of goods from 2010 up to now has increased 4.25 times - from US$157.1 billion in 2010 to US$668.5 billion in 2021. He said that the positive result was thanks to the contribution of the logistics service.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, despite many difficulties, Vietnamese logistics enterprises have adapted and maintained their supply chains. They have supported other enterprises in finding solutions to optimize logistics activities, saving costs and time.

They propose to the State strategic issues, contributing to maintaining and stabilizing the supply chain, improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and businesses. Businesses also make efforts to modernize technology to improve service quality and diversify services to overcome difficulties," said Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan.

Vietnam belongs to the group of 20 leading economies in terms of international trade.

The report of the Emerging Market Logistics Index 2021 released by Agility shows that in 2021, Vietnam has increased 3 ranks compared to 2020, ranked 8th in the top 10 countries.

The report also shows that the Vietnamese Government has identified logistics as an important service in the overall structure of the national economy. It plays the role of supporting, connecting and strengthening socio-economic development of the whole country as well as each locality, contributing to improving the competitiveness of the economy.

At the seminar, representatives of the authorities also pointed out the shortcomings in import and export activities in 2021, logistics activities in Vietnam.

The import and export report 2021 points out significant problems such as the continued high level of trade deficit or surplus for some markets, which is likely to affect sustainable import and export activities.

The export growth of a number of commodities is mainly based on the increase in quantity and price due to the scarce supply in the market. Exported goods sometimes still face congestion at border gates and seaports, especially from the end of 2021.

In logistics services, although there has been a strong development recorded, the logistics industry still has many limitations. One of them is that logistics enterprises have not yet developed up to the potential of the industry.

According to data from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, currently 90% of logistics enterprises operating are Vietnamese enterprises. However, they only account for about 30% of the market share. The rest belongs to foreign enterprises.

There are many enterprises, but mostly small ones, with limited scale in capital, human resources and experience.

With a special geographical position located in a dynamic development area of ​​the world, where the flow of goods is concentrated, Vietnam is considered to have advantages in geo-economics to boost production, export and logistics services.

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