Exports of plastics are expected to grow by 12–15 percent this year, according to the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA).

Ho Duc Lam, chairman of the association, said the country’s key export markets this year would be Japan and the US, which has high demand.

Other markets such as China, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are expected to become new export markets for plastics in the future.

Plastic bags made in Vietnam are still subject to anti-dumping taxes in the US market, but the US imposition of anti-dumping duties has had almost no impact on exports of the sector, according to Lam.

Every year, the average US import turnover is more than 50 billion USD for plastics and plastic products, accounting for 9.1 percent of the world’s total import of plastics, according to VPA.  

The largest plastic export market is Japan, with an average growth rate of 20–25 percent per year. Vietnam now ranks sixth in the top 10 countries exporting plastics to Japan, which is one of the most difficult markets with many strict regulations on the quality of goods. Vietnamese plastic exporters have been urged to improve quality, design and trade promotions to enter this market.

Lam recommended that Vietnamese plastic producers prepare long-term strategies and invest in market research to increase their penetration into the Japanese market.

In addition, the EU’s demand for plastic products imported from Vietnam is high, especially plastic pipes.

Vietnam’s plastic products are not subject to anti-dumping duties in the EU markets like other Asian countries (the average tax rate is from 8-30 percent). Thus, Vietnamese producers are also urged to seek new export markets. 

Despite the high export prospects and strong development in recent years, the plastics industry is still known only as part of the plastic processing industry.

More than 80 percent of raw materials are still imported from other countries.

Each year, the plastic industry needs an average of four million tonnes of raw materials, but only manages to produce about 900,000 tonnes, with the rest imported.

Experts have said that a shortage of raw materials will reduce the competitiveness of exporters.

Because of regulations on the origin of goods, it is difficult to take advantage of tax incentives in free trade agreements.

Exporters also need to focus on environmentally-friendly and safe products for sustainable growth.

Vietnam’s plastics industry earned 3 billion USD last year, posting a 17.3 percent increase over 2016, according to VPA. - VNA