The "key" of exporting Vietnamese rice to the Nordic market

The Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently holding the Nordic market , said that rice is the most obvious growth commodity in recent years in Northern Europe. Since the EVFTA came into effect, Sweden's rice imports from Vietnam have increased significantly.

Should go into the niche market

Due to the positive impact of the EVFTA Agreement, Vietnam's rice products have a competitive advantage over competitors in the market such as Indian and Thai rice. Besides, the Trade Office has also actively promoted rice trade, propagandized and mobilized enterprises to import Vietnamese rice to benefit from tariffs.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, because the Nordic rice market is quite small. In addition to competing conventional rice with Thailand and Cambodia, businesses should also explore the niche market for rice with less competition. For example, in recent times, the Trade Office has been successful in initially bringing Japonica rice to the Swedish market.

Currently, businesses in this region often buy Japonica rice from rice-growing countries in the EU such as Spain, Italy, or import from Japan and the United States. However, the quality of Japonica rice in Vietnam is not inferior to rice of the same type of the United States, Spain, and Italy, but the price is only from 1/3-1/2. Therefore, when introduced and tried to import, businesses are excited about this type of rice from Vietnam.

“The EVFTA Agreement recognizes and protects geographical indications with some types of Vietnamese rice. Rice ST24, ST25 won the world delicious rice award. Businesses can research and bring these types of rice into the Nordic market with the brand name Vietnamese Specialty Rice” - the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden pointed out.

In addition, the business strives to create a variety of unique products, combining a unique rice variety with organic, sustainable production methods and socio-economic impact. At the same time realize that the market for this specialty rice is very small and requires a lot of effort.

Certified organic or fair-trade specialty rice will also increase the value of your product in the Nordic market.

Check to see if the rice production site has specific advantages for producing aromatic or specialty rice, such as climate or soil. Local conditions can make the product a specialty rice and tell the stories associated with the product.

Meet market standards

In addition to focusing on niche markets, Vietnam in Sweden also emphasized that exporters need to pay attention to entering the Nordic market, in addition to providing the right products, they also have to comply with a lot of regulations. of the market.

Accordingly, businesses need to study the mandatory requirements of the market on official EU portals such as Trade Help Desk, CBI to understand rice-related procedures. Also, see the European Commission's legal basis for cereals and rice for an overview of legal documents and regulations. Check for regulatory updates using the Appryza web application of the European Federation of Rice Mills (FERM), which provides up-to-date regulatory information on European and export markets other password;

In addition, check the MRLs for pesticides and rice-related active substances by referring to the EU MRL database; search for rice (or code 0500060). Read about Pest Management in the Rice Knowledge Bank and reduce pesticide levels by applying integrated pest management (IPM) in production. IPM is an agricultural pest control strategy that includes cropping practices and chemical management. See an updated list of regulatory bodies and authorities approved to apply equivalent control programs and standards in non-EU countries.

“In addition to the mandatory market requirements that can be understood as the minimum requirements, the requirements of the buyer also need to be discussed and complied with” – the deal noted.

Focus on products that meet the standards of sustainability initiatives

The Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden especially noted that the trend of more sustainable and responsible production and business is getting more and more attention. This trend concerns many aspects of the supply chain, including working conditions, water use, waste management, etc. Your products will be accepted by Nordic buyers if they comply with the initiatives. sustainable ant.

Therefore, when exporting rice to the Nordic market, businesses should focus on products that highlight health benefits as well as emphasize organic and chemical-free factors that are always interested in the market. Nordic school.

Also, examine the business's current performance by examining the detailed requirements and score system of the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Farming and review the implementation of the BSCI code of conduct. Ensure the business has adequate quality control systems in place to be able to supply with consistent volume and quality.

In addition, the Standards Map should be studied to learn about the various voluntary social and sustainability standards. Note that every certification system may attract a different type of buyer, but meeting too many standards can be costly and make the product less competitive on price. Research different programs and social initiatives in CBI research on buyer requirements for cereals;

In particular, organic certification can be considered if conditions permit. However, doing organic and certified production can be expensive. Check with shoppers to determine which certification program is best suited for the target market.

In addition, businesses need to keep up to date with developments in the rice trade through news sites such as Rice News Today and World-grain.com. Join trade fairs in Europe like SIAL, Anuga or Biofach to find potential customers. Nordic businesses also often participate in these fairs to find rice supplies. Find financial support to promote the product and expand into the Nordic market, such as through NGOs working with communities to create fair trade brands or through sponsors. social impact investments like Okio Credit, Triodos or Truvalu.