According to Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Woodworking Association (HAWA), it is necessary to have an abundant and diverse supply of raw materials to serve all market segments at the VietnamWood 2022 International Exhibition, which takes place from October 18 to 21 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in southern Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of HAWA. Photo: Hong Nhung

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on October 18, he said that although the export turnover increased in September 2022, the impact of inflation and uncertainties in the global economy would continue to negatively affect the export growth of the wood processing industry and other products in the last months of the year.

“All of the above factors, coming from both internal and external capacity, have posed great challenges for the wood industry and businesses in terms of finding solutions, ensuring quality, fulfilling existing orders’ requirements, increasing productivity and welcoming new customers," he said. "Above all, it is necessary to be flexible to cope with future changes, follow the trend of sustainable development, and investigate raw materials and technology."

Some groups of companies have used modern technology and imported machinery. But the devices in use all have an average production year of 2010, which is comparatively old.

With the trend of production automation taking place to reduce the number of direct workers and replace them with machines, Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly orienting their production lines towards specialisation.

As for raw materials, the supply of domestically exploited materials, including planted forests and scattered trees, currently meets about 75 per cent of the total processing demand.

Each year, Vietnam has to import about 8.5 million cubic metres of wood. With the development of the wood processing industry, it is necessary to have an abundant and diverse supply of raw materials to serve all market segments.

The total export turnover of Vietnam's wood and wood products in 2021 reached $14.8 billion. In which, the export turnover of foreign-invested enterprises reached $7.46 billion, accounting for 50.4 per cent of the total export turnover.

The VietnamWood 2022 International Exhibition on Woodworking Industry Machinery and Equipment runs from October 18 to 21 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hong Nhung

Starting in 2001, the VietnamWood International Exhibition has been held every two years and has become a significant event in the machinery, technology and materials of the wood processing industry. Brands participating in VietnamWood 2022 bring solutions to control products from raw materials to completion and delivery to consumers.

Vietnam's woodworking and furniture export industry aims for sustainable development, both in-depth and breadth, from short-term to long-term goals. Among many elements of sustainable development for the industry, solutions in production technology, raw materials and new materials are at the core.

The VietnamWood 2022 exhibition continues to welcome the participation of familiar faces who have accompanied the event over the years, such as the American Hardwood Export Council, German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association, Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association, Canadian Wood, Nanxing, Vetta, Thuan Hien, Dai Phuc Vinh and many other companies from France, China, Austria, Finland, and Russia.