Deep processing needed to raise value of coffee: experts
To increase the value of coffee beans and gain higher economic profits, Vietnam should focus investment in the deep processing industry and in technical production solutions, said experts at an international seminar on sustainable development for the Vietnamese coffee sector.
 |
The event was held on December 10 in Gia Nghia town in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, as part of the second Vietnam Coffee Day Festival, which is underway in the locality from December 9-12.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Truong Thanh Tung stated that the event offers a chance for experts, scientists, managers, entrepreneurs, and farmers to discuss measures to best develop Vietnamese coffee, from production, harvest and preservation to processing and consumption.
Participants stressed that Vietnam ranks second in the world in terms of coffee production and export (only behind Brazil), with the output of around 1.7 million tonnes a year. However, the country’s export value remains low and competitiveness is weak, as it mainly exports coffee beans.
According to the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in recent years, there has been a shift from reducing the proportion of coffee beans for export to increasing the proportion of processing and exporting instant and ground roasted coffee.
Acting Director of the authority Nguyen Quoc Toan emphasised the need for Vietnam to raise the proportion of instant and ground roasted coffee from over 10% at present to 25% by 2020.
Attention should be paid to attracting investment in building ground roasted coffee processing plants with the capacity of at least 5,000 tonnes per year, and instant coffee ones with the capacity of at least 3,000 tonnes per year, Toan said.
He also suggested synchronously implementing solutions related to science-technology, dissemination, and market development.
At the seminar, many delegates underlined the importance of expanding the domestic market.
Deputy head of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association Do Ha Nam said that around 200,000 tonnes of coffee beans are consumed domestically each year, equal to 11.7% of total output.
Vietnam is striving for 30% of coffee consumed in the domestic market by 2030. It has also set the target of raising export turnover to US$6 billion over the year and remaining the world’s second largest producer and exporter of coffee beans.
