Binh Dinh’s wood industry targets turnover of 1 billion USD

According to Le Minh Thien, Chairman of the Forest Products Association of Binh Dinh, the wood industry in Binh Dinh will continue to face significant challenges in 2024 regarding orders and export markets. However, thanks to a strategy of market and customer diversification under the principle of “self-reliance and savings,” along with technological innovation in production and efforts to secure customers and orders that align with each enterprise’s capabilities, the industry’s export turnover in the first nine months of 2024 increased by 25% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 796.47 million USD. This figure accounts for approximately 61% of Binh Dinh’s total export turnover.

According to Le Van Nhuan, Director of the Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Customs, primary wood-related export and import items under their jurisdiction include wood chips, pellets, interior and exterior wooden products, and raw wood. Over the past five years, the number of Binh Dinh wood businesses participating in export and import activities, along with export turnover, has shown an upward trend, with each year surpassing the previous.

Director Le Van Nhuan also noted that during their operation, Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Customs had identified companies that imported goods from China, using Vietnam as a transit country to export wood products to the U.S. while falsely claiming Vietnamese origin. Subsequently, the Department of Customs issued warnings to relevant authoritive bodies such as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), which is responsible for determining the origin of goods, and the Binh Dinh Provincial Police to monitor and take measures against businesses involved in aiding Chinese companies with origin fraud.

“In the immediate future, Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Customs will continue implementing professional measures to control wood exports and imports, in addition to coordinating closely with provincial authorities to prevent companies from aiding Chinese firms in bypassing origin regulations and falsely using Vietnamese origin,” Director Le Van Nhuan confirmed.

Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Customs also warned wood businesses against making incorrect declarations before receiving container numbers. Accordingly, companies should refrain from using container numbers obtained in advance from shipping lines for customs declarations without having previously received the empty containers. Additionally, companies must present complete customs declarations for shared containers when loading goods onto ships to avoid being rejected for export verification. Companies must also check the status of goods confirmation upon loading to facilitate the issuance of certificates of origin (C/O) and the refund of domestic taxes.

Nguyen Dinh Kha, Deputy Director of the Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Industry and Trade, announced that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially confirmed the establishment of an Import-Export Office in Binh Dinh. The office will be responsible for issuing C/Os for local businesses engaged in import and export activities. The C/O is a common document in trade and a crucial certificate for determining the origin of goods. It allows exporters and importers to benefit from preferential tax policies if the goods fall under the trade agreements between the two trading countries.

“With an estimated date of operation by the end of 2024, the Import-Export Office will be staffed by officials from the Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Industry and Trade. During its operation, wood businesses in the province can save significant time and costs in handling C/O procedures,” shared Deputy Director Nguyen Dinh Kha.

By utilizing technology in forest management, protection, and development, Binh Dinh province has effectively protected its forest area, with a growing coverage rate.

Binh Dinh province is currently home to over 415,724 hectares of forest and forestry land, including more than 345,580 hectares of forested area. This area comprises over 214,543 hectares of natural forests and 131,036 hectares of planted forests. The remaining area consists of newly planted forests or land without forest coverage.

Forest protection forces in Binh Dinh province has promoted the application of technology in monitoring, managing, protecting, and developing forests. As a result, the province’s capacity to monitor, manage protect, and prevent forest fires have vastly improved, with notable achievements in the timely detection of violations pertaining to the Law on Forestry.