Flower exports soar in 2021

Lily, chrysanthemum and phalaenopsis exports increased by 16-52 percent, according to Vietnam Customs.

Bui Nguyen Dieu Tuong, sales manager of leading cut flowers distributor Dalat Hasfarm, said Vietnamese flowers are increasingly popular in the global market, thanks to their durability and competitive prices compared to their Dutch counterparts.

New markets like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong have opened up while China, Japan, Australia, and Taiwan remain top importers.

"Eighty percent of our chrysanthemum was exported to Japan and Taiwan in 2021," Tuong said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Vietnam will expand its existing markets in Asia to take advantage of short distances and low transportation costs.

But it said the quality of Vietnamese floricultural produce is inconsistent and the use of technology and environment-friendly fertilizers is not common in the country.

To maintain competitiveness, the ministry urged firms to switch from traditional to tech-based farming.

Experts said the Vietnamese floriculture industry needs to develop brands and participate in international exhibitions to increase awareness of its products.

Leading market research firm Mordor Intelligence forecast a compounded annual growth rate of 10.18 percent for the industry in 2020-25 thanks to favorable climatic conditions and competitive prices.