China will continue to buy more cassava from Vietnam

According to the General Department of Customs, cassava exports in 2021 reached nearly 2.9 million tons, worth approximately USD 1.2 billion, up 2.4% in volume and 16.5% in value compared to 2020. Cassava and cassava products are among the agro-products that still maintain the growth rate in both output and export value thanks to high demand from China.

Cassava starch and slices both grew strongly in export turnover in the past year.

In the first 11 months of 2021, Vietnam exported 1.84 million tons of cassava starch, worth USD 865.5 million, down 0.8% in volume, but up 16.8% in value compared to the same period in 2020.

Cassava starch was mainly exported to China, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and South Korea. Exports to China accounted for 95.8% of Vietnam’s total cassava starch exports with 1.76 million tons, valued at USD 826.68 million, up 1.3% in volume and 19.3% in value over the same period in 2020.

In the 11 months of 2021, Vietnam also exported 780,110 tons of dried cassava slices, worth USD 202.06 million, up 43.4% in volume and 60.1% in value over the same period in 2020.

Dried cassava slices are mainly exported to markets such as China, Korea and Malaysia. Exports to China in particular accounted for 88.6% of Vietnam’s total export of cassava slices with 691.24 thousand tons, worth USD 172.71 million, up 54.1% in volume and 74% in value over the same period in 2020.

The Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) forecasts that China will have an even greater demand for cassava imports in 2022 as cassava and cassava products from Vietnam are blessed with favorable geographical conditions.

However the upcoming exports of cassava and cassava products to China will face many difficulties because of a series of new regulations and standards issued and applied by the General Administration of Customs of China from the beginning of 2022.