In 2023, agricultural products, seafood, a number of industrial products such as textiles, leather and footwear are the product groups of Vietnam that are identified with great potential for export to the UAE market.

Due to the limited industrial and agricultural production of the UAE, most food and consumer goods must be imported to meet the needs of the people. This is also one of the reasons that helped Vietnam's trade surplus with the UAE reached USD 3.3 billion last year.

Several Vietnam’s products are holding a large market share and will continue to be able to export to the UAE market this year.

Specifically, the seafood group, according to statistics in 2022, Vietnam's seafood exports to the UAE increased by over 18% compared to 2021. Particularly for frozen pangasius fillets, Vietnam is leading the world in exporting to the UAE, accounting for over 50% of the market share.

In the group of agricultural products, vegetables: dragon fruit, watermelon, seedless lemon, Vietnam is dominating the UAE market in particular, as well as the markets of Middle East countries and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in general. These items of Vietnam are being sold in supermarkets in the UAE at reasonable prices.

In addition, Vietnam's cashew nuts currently account for the largest market share in the UAE, up to 81%, export turnover in 2022 reached over USD 55 million, an increase of 14% compared to 2021; Vietnam's pepper also accounts for 60% of the UAE's import market share, with a turnover of USD 58 million.

With rice, Vietnam is currently ranked 3rd in the world after India and Pakistan in terms of exports to the UAE, the turnover in 2022 reached USD 25 million, accounting for 7.3%, this is also a potential group of goods for export to the UAE in the near future.

Not only agricultural - aquatic products, several processed industrial products of Vietnam are also having the opportunity to export to the UAE. In which, in the group of processed and manufactured products, Vietnam can increase exports of bags, suitcases and wallets; timber and wood products; textile; footwear.

Kylie Nguyen