Customs officers of Ho Chi Minh City carry out procedures for goods to be exported by air. Photo: T.H

Expansion of production and export scale

In January 2022, Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company - a large shrimp exporter in Soc Trang province - posted recruitment information for over 1,000 workers. According to the leader of this company, the number of workers recruited is to strengthen the shrimp processing factories for export of the enterprise.

Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the shrimp processing and export results of Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company in 2021 reached the highest level in the 26-year history of this business, with sales reaching US$213 million, increasing by more than 12%; profit reached over VND280 billion, up over 15% over the same period. With this growth momentum, since the beginning of the year, Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company has expanded its scale and increased workers for processing and export.

Similarly, in January 2022, Nam Viet Joint Stock Company is expected to export about 8,000 tons of finished pangasius products of all kinds, with a total value of US$20 million, up from 60-70% over the same period in 2021. Along with the sharp increase in export output, the price of pangasius for export also increased to an average of US$2.6 -2.7/kg, 2.3 higher than the average price of 2021 – US$2.4/kg.

According to the leader of Nam Viet Joint Stock Company, the demand for pangasius products is increasing, because, businesses have not been able to export much due to the prolonged impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to difficulties in transportation.

Currently, the source of production materials is stable thanks to the farming area of up to 1,000 ha. Along with a full workforce of workers who have returned to work, all of whom have been vaccinated against Covid-19, the group has boosted export processing. The company's export orders have been filled to capacity until the first quarter of 2022, and all orders are signed at high prices.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the spectacular recovery of seafood exports in 2021 in the last months of the year has brought the export results of the whole year to US$8.9 billion. It is predicted that in 2022, the country's seafood exports will exceed the results in 2021.

Acceleration since the beginning of the year

In addition to seafood businesses, many export products are also trying to speed up exports from the beginning of the year. Duc Thanh Wood Processing Joint Stock Company recorded total revenue in 2021, up 4% compared to the plan, reaching VND338.6 billion. In which, export continues to be the channel that brings in a large amount of revenue for the company when accounting for 85%. About 76% of Duc Thanh's total export products in the past year were shipped to Asian countries.

Goods exported through seaports and airport border gates in the first days of the year 2022 were also quite high. In the first three days of the year, despite being public holidays, nearly 500 export shipments through Cat Lai port have been cleared by the Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch with a total turnover of over US$54 million.

In which, on the first day of the year, there were 160 export shipments, the Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch cleared nearly 160 export declarations, with a total turnover of over US$15 million. In addition, on the last day of 2021, the Saigon Port 1 Customs Branch carried out procedures for a sudden increase in export goods, with nearly 1,200 shipments, with a total export turnover of over $82 million. According to the Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch, exported goods are mainly agricultural products, aquatic products and fresh fruits.

According to the survey results of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, businesses forecast the number of new export orders in the first quarter of 2022 to be more positive, with 74.3% of enterprises forecast to increase and stay the same compared to the fourth quarter of 2021; 25.7% of businesses forecast a decrease.

The employment situation of enterprises in the processing and manufacturing industries is still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is forecast that the number of employees in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 will increase or stay the same, with 75.7% of enterprises; only 24.3% of enterprises expect to reduce the number of employees.

Forecasts for the first quarter of 2022 compared to the third quarter of 2021, 84.9% of enterprises forecast production costs for the main products to increase and stay the same (33.3% increase and 51.6% remain the same); 15.1% of enterprises forecast a decrease in production costs.

The number of export orders is increasing, the number of workers being added by enterprises are signs that the needs of overseas customers are gradually improving, and Vietnamese enterprises are accelerating exports in the first month of the year.