There have been positive signals from the export market

According to the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association, in the first five months of 2023, the country's export turnover of wood and wood products reached US$4.96 billion, down by 29.4% over the same period in 2022. In which, export turnover of wood products reached USD 3.374 billion, down 34.6% over the same period last year.

Wood industry enterprises find technology to meet new requirements

Inflation in many major economies such as the United States and Europe is still standing at high levels, personal spending is tightened, and the real estate market is quiet, which will continue to affect the consumption of wood and wood products. globally in 2023.

Some wood industry enterprises said that in the difficult context, orders have started to return, however, it also poses new challenges for businesses in the industry.

"The number of orders is no longer as large as before, and the delivery time is shortened from 70 - 90 days to 45 - 60 days. New order requirements require investment in versatile machinery. Only then can it be met ," said Mr. Nguyen Phuong - Director of Minh Thanh Co., Ltd.

Similarly, according to a representative of a wood export enterprise to the US market, in the past, customers often placed orders for the whole year (ie 1 year, 1 large order), but this year they split orders by quarter. or 6 months. Small orders, quarterly mean will be narrower in size, difficult for manufacturers and large enterprises. But for private businesses, good dynamism can be adapted.

Opportunities for businesses to access the most advanced technology

Currently, Vietnam has more than 5,400 enterprises investing in manufacturing and processing wooden furniture. Vietnamese wooden products have been present in the markets of more than 140 countries and territories.

The above impressive figure helps Vietnam to rank 5th in the world, 2nd in Asia and 1st in Southeast Asia in terms of furniture export turnover, accounting for 6% of the global wood product market share and still have plenty of room to develop. develop.

If from the previous period to 2010, the production has partially applied semi-automatic equipment, from 2010 to now, businesses have had innovation in the use of automation and CNC equipment. , Lazer machines, robots in wood cutting, sophisticated cross-section processing..., some factories also put information technology into management and operation.

However, the issue of competitiveness, the story of technology investment to meet the requirements of the market and customers are still challenges for this industry.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of Dai Phuc Vinh Co., Ltd. - assessed, Vietnamese wood industry enterprises are losing competition with international enterprises. The reason is that in Vietnam, the wood industry is still using a lot of workers, and the production process is cumbersome and cumbersome, increasing production costs. This problem shows that businesses need to invest in technology to shorten the production stage.

Mr. Do Xuan Lap - Chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFOREST) - said that in the context of the world market demand is falling deeply, at the same time, there is still and requires small orders, time Fast delivery, while Vietnam's wood industry is still in a state of high labor costs, high raw material consumption, which requires the wood industry to improve its competitiveness. In which, technology solutions are very important.

According to Mr. Do Xuan Lap, from August 9 to 12 at the WTC Expo Binh Duong International Exhibition Center, the Binh Duong International Wood Materials and Machinery Fair 2023 (BIFA WOOD VIETNAM 2023). Gathering more than 100 businesses with a scale of nearly 800 booths displaying industrial machinery and equipment for wood processing of businesses from countries and territories, this will be a good opportunity for businesses to choose select on-site many new and advanced machinery and equipment products with updated technology in the direction of automation to create a modern production line to maximize labor productivity.

“The fair will be an opportunity for businesses in the industry to meet, exchange information, cooperate in business, but more deeply, create a chain of vertical linkages in the industry from suppliers of raw materials, spare parts and accessories. to sue; providing machinery, technology, to manufacturers and traders ,” shared Mr. Do Xuan Lap.

Mr. Nguyen Liem - Chairman of Binh Duong Woodworking Association (BIFA) - said that the world's trend is a clean, green, circular economy and the wood industry cannot go beyond this rule. Binh Duong wood industry is aiming to apply technology to reduce emissions, improve quality and save raw materials.

“BIFA WOOD VIETNAM 2023 is an opportunity for professionals, businesses and consumers to directly evaluate and select on the spot advanced automation products from many reputable manufacturers from many reputable manufacturers. The United States, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, China…”, Mr. Nguyen Liem said.

The project of developing a sustainable and effective wood processing industry in the period of 2021 - 2030 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 327/QD-TTg dated March 10, 2022, setting goals to 2030. , striving for Vietnam to be in the group of leading countries in the world in terms of production, processing and export of wood and wood products; building and developing a reputable Vietnamese wood product brand in the domestic and international markets;…

To achieve the above goal, in addition to strengthening trade promotion activities to find new markets, etc., the promotion of investment in joint ventures, technology transfer to improve efficiency in production, Better response to customer needs is a must at this time. Innovating and improving technology also aims to realize the Government's goal of wood export to reach 20 billion USD by 2025.