Vietnam’s wood industry sees strong growth

Vietnam’s total trade turnover rose 16% in H1/2025 year-on-year, with the wood and wood products sector standing out as a key driver with a 9% growth, underscoring a strong recovery, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The remarks were made at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-ASEAN International Furniture and Handicraft Products Fair (VIFA ASEAN 2025), held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

VCCI noted that the U.S. remains the primary market for Vietnamese wood products, with exports to this market climbing 11.6% and accounting for more than 55% of total turnover.

However, the organization cautioned against relying too heavily on a single market, stressing the importance of diversification.

Speaking at the event, Vu Ba Phu, director of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said VIFA ASEAN 2025 marks an important step toward building HCMC into a regional trade hub.

He added that the ministry will continue supporting the wood industry through digital transformation initiatives, green production practices, and efforts to strengthen Vietnam’s national brand.

Echoing this vision, Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, highlighted the advantages of integrating Binh Duong province into HCMC. This move, he said, creates a seamless supply chain - from production in Binh Duong’s industrial parks to export through HCMC’s major seaports.

HCMC, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, all industrial hubs in southern Vietnam, were recently merged to form the new HCMC.

“With this alignment between the government and businesses, we expect to generate new momentum for sustainable growth in Vietnam’s wood industry and solidify HCMC’s position as an essential destination on the global trade map,” Dung said.