Wood processing industry expected to earn 17 billion USD, trade surplus over 13 billion USD

The Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed localities to proactively implement the 2024 Forest Development Plan; provide timely information and recommendations to localities on forest planting seasons and provide technical guidance on planting major tree species... The rate of forestry tree varieties with controlled origin and quality for use in forest planting reaches 85-90%.

As of November 25, 2024, 1,039.23 million seedlings of all kinds have been prepared to serve the 2024 afforestation plan, equal to 100.7% compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the report of the Forestry Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in the first 11 months of 2024, the export value of wood and forest products is estimated to reach 15.62 billion USD, and in the whole year of 2024, the export value of wood and forest products is estimated to reach over 17.2 billion USD. Notably, in the first 11 months of 2024, the wood and forest products processing industry had a trade surplus of 13.11 billion USD.

The report of the Forestry Department also showed that the export value of wood and forest products in November this year increased by 19.8% over the same period in 2023, of which wood products reached 10.09 billion USD, up 22.5% over the same period; raw wood 4.58 billion USD, up 17.8%; non-timber forest products 0.95 billion USD, up 4.4%.

It is estimated that in 2024, wood and forestry product exports will reach over 17.2 billion USD, an increase of 18.9% compared to 2023, exceeding 13.1% compared to the 2024 plan.

Notably, wood and forestry product exports contribute largely to the agricultural sector's trade surplus, with the trade surplus in the first 11 months of 2024 reaching 13.11 billion USD (the total agricultural sector's trade surplus in the first 11 months of 2024 is 16.46 billion USD).

Regarding forest development, the Forestry Department has focused on directing localities to proactively implement the 2024 Forest Development Plan; promptly inform and advise localities on forest planting seasons and provide technical guidance on planting major tree species; promptly issue guiding documents on forest development. Local authorities have seriously implemented seed quality management.

Accordingly, the rate of forestry tree varieties with controlled origin and quality for use in afforestation will reach 85-90%. As of November 25, 2024, 1,039.23 million seedlings of all kinds have been prepared to serve the 2024 afforestation plan, equal to 100.7% compared to the same period in 2023.

As of November 25, 2024, the whole country has planted 217,860 forests, equal to 103.4% compared to the same period in 2023, concentrated in some provinces in the North, Southwest, and Southeast. The whole year is estimated to reach about 245,000 hectares, reaching 100% of the yearly plan.

Regarding the implementation of payments for forest environmental services, as of November 29, 2024, the country has collected 3,374.99 billion VND. It is estimated that the whole year of 2024 will reach over 3,400 billion VND, exceeding the 2024 plan by 7%.

Regarding forest certification, in the first 11 months of 2024, about 135,000 hectares of forest were newly certified, exceeding the 2024 plan, bringing the total area of forest with forest certification nationwide to 595,488 hectares. In 2024, the total area of forest with certification nationwide is estimated to reach about 610,000 hectares, reaching 120%.

To achieve the set goals, from the beginning of the year, the Department of Forestry has resolutely and synchronously implemented the programs, projects and plans of the industry, such as: Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy for the period 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050; Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the period 2021 - 2025; key programs and projects of the industry.

In addition, the Forestry Department has advised and deployed the development of legal documents, programs, projects, and plans to ensure progress and quality; advised on synthesizing the results of implementing targets and tasks of the forestry sector, forestry development programs, serving the direction and administration work.

By 2025, the forestry sector strives to achieve a growth rate of forestry production value of 4.5-5.0%; forest product export value of 18 billion USD; concentrated afforestation of 250,000 hectares; forest area certified for sustainable forest management of 70,000 hectares; forest environmental service revenue of 3,200 billion VND.

To achieve the set goals, the Forestry Department determined to continue perfecting mechanisms, policies, and legal documents on forestry; completing the development of legal documents according to the 2025 plan assigned by the Ministry to ensure progress and quality.

Develop and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the period 2026-2030. Implement activities on biodiversity conservation of forest ecosystems; ecotourism , resorts, entertainment; sustainable use of forest environment; effectively implement the policy of payment for forest environmental services.

Implement the plan to grant Sustainable Forest Management certificates, deploy recognition of the national forest certification system and qualify for linkage with the international PEFC forest certification; widely deploy the issuance of forest certificates according to the National Forest Certification System.

Actively cooperate internationally to mobilize and attract ODA and FDI capital through international programs and projects; develop forest product export markets in accordance with international law; signed agreements; Prioritize bilateral and multilateral international cooperation programs and projects to develop forestry, in which priority is given to programs and projects supporting coastal forest development associated with responding to climate change and rising sea levels; sustainable forest management and forest certification; reduce greenhouse gas emissions, absorb and store carbon from forests, forest environmental services; programs and projects to improve the quality of human resources in the forestry sector.

Deploy information and communication work in the forestry sector, in conjunction with the implementation of tasks assigned by the Government and the Ministry; Strengthen communication on the role of forests, mechanisms, policies, strategies, programs, and key projects of the forestry sector; diversify forms of propaganda; organize training, coaching, and dissemination to raise awareness on forest protection and development, and effectively implement mechanisms and policies to implement the program.

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