The rise in beef imports after tariffs are cut to zero in 2018 underthe ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) is a serious threat for thedomestic cattle industry.
The consumption of imported beef hasalready risen sharply during recent years, with more than 250,000 livecows and 26,000 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat being imported lastyear.
According to Nguyen Dang Vang, Chairman of the LivestockAssociation of Vietnam, the number of beeves imported from Australiasurged from 3,500 in 2010 to 181,000 in 2014, reflecting a 52-foldgrowth in just two years.
Vang forecast that the import of beevesfrom Australia will be about 200,000 to 220,000 heads this year, giventhe rising domestic demand.
Most recently, Canada organised anevent to promote its agricultural products, including safe andhigh-quality beef in Vietnam, saying that Vietnam is a market with highpotential.
Together with the zero import tariff imposed on beefto be applied from 2018, following commitments made under ATIGA and thegrowing consumption demand of Vietnamese, Vietnam would provide hugeopportunities for countries with cattle farming advantages.
Thecountry's market currently has the world's biggest meat producerspresent, including from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, which hasresulted in harsh competition for the domestic cattle industry, not onlyin prices, but also in quality.
Vang said the rising beefimports are unavoidable as domestic cow production meets only more than70 percent of the local demand, adding that beef imports will continueto expand as Vietnam has not the advantage of large-scale livestockfarming in comparison with Australia or New Zealand.
In addition, imported beef will have more competitive prices than Vietnamese beef when the import tariff is cut to zero.
Anexpert from the Dong Nai Livestock Association said Vietnam is seeingconsiderable demand for beeves, but it is difficult to developlarge-scale cattle farming in the country, given its natural conditionsand policies.
He added that rapid urbanisation during the pastdecade has pushed up land prices, which resulted in husbandry costsrising, reducing Vietnamese beef's competitiveness.
To enhance competitiveness for Vietnamese, a long-term plan is needed, experts said.
A large number of domestic firms invested in cattle farming, including Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Vissan.
In2014, Vietnam imported roughly 300 million USD worth of live cattle and50 million USD worth of frozen beef. The country had more than 5million heads of cattle and a beef output of 297,400 tonnes.-VNA
The consumption of imported beef hasalready risen sharply during recent years, with more than 250,000 livecows and 26,000 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat being imported lastyear.
According to Nguyen Dang Vang, Chairman of the LivestockAssociation of Vietnam, the number of beeves imported from Australiasurged from 3,500 in 2010 to 181,000 in 2014, reflecting a 52-foldgrowth in just two years.
Vang forecast that the import of beevesfrom Australia will be about 200,000 to 220,000 heads this year, giventhe rising domestic demand.
Most recently, Canada organised anevent to promote its agricultural products, including safe andhigh-quality beef in Vietnam, saying that Vietnam is a market with highpotential.
Together with the zero import tariff imposed on beefto be applied from 2018, following commitments made under ATIGA and thegrowing consumption demand of Vietnamese, Vietnam would provide hugeopportunities for countries with cattle farming advantages.
Thecountry's market currently has the world's biggest meat producerspresent, including from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, which hasresulted in harsh competition for the domestic cattle industry, not onlyin prices, but also in quality.
Vang said the rising beefimports are unavoidable as domestic cow production meets only more than70 percent of the local demand, adding that beef imports will continueto expand as Vietnam has not the advantage of large-scale livestockfarming in comparison with Australia or New Zealand.
In addition, imported beef will have more competitive prices than Vietnamese beef when the import tariff is cut to zero.
Anexpert from the Dong Nai Livestock Association said Vietnam is seeingconsiderable demand for beeves, but it is difficult to developlarge-scale cattle farming in the country, given its natural conditionsand policies.
He added that rapid urbanisation during the pastdecade has pushed up land prices, which resulted in husbandry costsrising, reducing Vietnamese beef's competitiveness.
To enhance competitiveness for Vietnamese, a long-term plan is needed, experts said.
A large number of domestic firms invested in cattle farming, including Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Vissan.
In2014, Vietnam imported roughly 300 million USD worth of live cattle and50 million USD worth of frozen beef. The country had more than 5million heads of cattle and a beef output of 297,400 tonnes.-VNA
