Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vo Tan Thanh, Vice President of VCCI, noted that 2025 could be considered a remarkable milestone for Vietnam’s wood processing and export industry. According to statistics from the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam’s export turnover of wood and wood products in 2025 reached over USD 17.2 billion, up nearly 6% compared to 2024 and surpassing the USD 17 billion mark for the first time.

VCCI Vice President Vo Tan Thanh speaking at the opening ceremony of the fair.

He said that in the context of continued global economic uncertainties and uneven recovery in consumer demand across major markets, this achievement represents not only encouraging growth but also demonstrates the adaptability, resilience, and increasing professionalism of Vietnam’s wood industry business community.

In particular, furniture products continued to play a key role in the export structure, with a value exceeding USD 11.7 billion in 2025. This shows that Vietnam is gradually shifting from a contract manufacturing base to a country producing and exporting higher value-added products associated with design, branding, and international technical standards.

Regarding markets, Vo Tan Thanh noted that the United States remains the largest importer of Vietnam’s wood and wood products, with export turnover in 2025 reaching USD 9.46 billion, accounting for 55% of the industry’s total export value. Japan surpassed China to become the second-largest importer, with exports reaching more than USD 2.1 billion, a significant increase of 22.3% compared to 2024. China maintained imports of Vietnamese wood and wood products at over USD 2 billion, up 3.5% year-on-year. These three key markets currently account for nearly 80% of Vietnam’s total wood and wood product exports.

“These figures demonstrate two important points. First, Vietnamese enterprises have affirmed their ability to meet increasingly stringent technical standards and legal requirements of major markets. Second, diversifying export markets and reducing dependence on a few key markets will be an important requirement for the industry’s next stage of development,” Vo Tan Thanh emphasized.

However, he also noted that alongside major opportunities, the wood industry continues to face various challenges, including trade defense measures, requirements for legal timber traceability, and increasingly strict standards on sustainability, carbon emissions, and social responsibility.

Nevertheless, in this context, opportunities are also emerging to restructure the industry toward a greener, more transparent, and higher value-added model. Ensuring legal raw material supply, applying digital technologies in production management, enhancing design capacity, and strengthening brand development will be key factors supporting the long-term sustainable development of Vietnam’s wood industry.

“In this context, VIFA EXPO 2026 is not merely a trade fair but also a forum for connecting trends, creativity, and international cooperation. It is where Vietnamese enterprises introduce new collections, modern design solutions, and environmentally friendly production models, while also creating opportunities to meet buyers, investors, and international partners. We believe that through this event, many new trade agreements, strategic partnerships, and innovative ideas will emerge, further enhancing the position of the ‘Vietnam Wood’ brand in the global market,” Vo Tan Thanh added.

He also expressed confidence that, with the positive growth momentum in 2025 and the proactive spirit of innovation, integration, and sustainable development among the business community, Vietnam’s wood and furniture industry will continue to achieve new milestones in 2026 and the years ahead.

Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, also noted that despite complex fluctuations in the global economy, Vietnam’s wood industry recorded impressive growth in 2025 when total export turnover surpassed USD 17 billion for the first time, an increase of approximately 5.7% compared to 2024.

Caption: Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, speaking at the opening ceremony.

Wooden furniture products remained the industry’s main driver, accounting for nearly 61% of total export turnover. This achievement demonstrates the creativity and adaptability of Vietnamese enterprises, whose products have established strong reputations in demanding markets such as the United States, Japan, and China.

He also noted that as Vietnam becomes more deeply integrated into the global economy, Ho Chi Minh City, with its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and high-quality human resources, possesses strong potential to become a leading regional hub for trade and exhibitions. The recognition of VIFA EXPO as the longest-running and largest annual international furniture and handicraft export fair in Vietnam clearly demonstrates the event’s strong appeal and further affirms the reputation, position, and important contributions of Vietnam’s wood industry on the global trade map.

Alongside strengthening its international brand, the Vietnamese wood business community has shown a proactive spirit of innovation by investing in modern technologies, strictly controlling legal raw material sources, and promoting digital transformation to optimize production. These efforts not only help the industry meet strict global market standards but also demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable development.

During the opening ceremony of VIFA EXPO 2026, the organizing committee donated VND 200 million to the Ho Chi Minh City Fund for the Poor and VND 200 million to the Ho Chi Minh City Poor Patients Support Fund.

Despite positive results, 2026 still presents many challenges, including technical barriers such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), reciprocal tariff policies, anti-dumping investigations from the United States, as well as rising transportation costs and natural disasters disrupting supply chains. This situation requires the wood industry to remain committed to green transformation, diversify markets, and strengthen the application of digital technologies in trade promotion.

“In addition to exports, the wood industry is also focusing on tapping into the potential of the domestic market of 100 million people, which serves as a strong foundation against global fluctuations. To take advantage of this opportunity, enterprises need to invest in understanding consumer preferences and keeping up with design trends to develop products suitable for domestic consumers, while strengthening communication and demand stimulation through diversified sales channels that flexibly combine traditional and modern approaches,” Hung emphasized.