Handicrafts: Rushing exports to the US, EU...

At this time, handicraft workshops continuously receive many large orders. Customers from European countries, America, Japan... switch to placing orders with Vietnamese enterprises instead of from China.

At the Tu Bon Lacquerware Company's production workshop (Tuong Binh Hiep Commune, Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong), about 20 workers are still working even though it is a holiday. Mr. Nguyen Ba Linh, the company's director, said that since August, orders have increased rapidly. On average, the company has to complete about 1,000 products per month to meet delivery deadlines for partners. "In addition to the export market, there is also the "on-site export" market for tourists during the year-end holidays," Mr. Linh said. According to Mr. Linh, new orders have increased by about 30% compared to the first months of the year.

Similarly, at the Hiep Luc Cooperative's rattan and bamboo products factory (Dong Nai), many members are busy packing 5,000 boxes and crates of various types made from water hyacinth for export to Germany with a value of about 500 million VND. Ms. Luong Thi Thuy, head of the Cooperative, said that in 2013, the Cooperative's revenue is estimated to reach 20 billion VND (up 25% compared to the previous year), of which the quantity of goods in the last months of the year accounts for a large amount. Currently, the Cooperative has orders for production until the end of May 2014. Most of the customers are from the European and American markets.

According to a survey, many businesses and handicraft cooperatives are actively recruiting workers, expanding production facilities and warehouses to receive new orders. Mr. Vuong Sieu Tin - Vice President of Binh Duong Ceramics Association, Director of Phuoc Du Long Ceramics Company (Binh Duong) - said that all have contracts and are preparing to export from now until early next year. Although the possibility of economic recovery is recognized and considered by Mr. Tin in the business plan, he himself is still surprised. "The amount of ceramics sold has increased by nearly 100% compared to the middle months of the year. Currently, on average, the company releases 50 containers to the market each month, with more than 2,000 product lines, the value of a container is about 10,000 USD, of which the export market accounts for 90% and has stable orders until early next year" - Mr. Tin happily expressed.

According to a survey by the Handicraft and Wood Processing Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), there is a trend of customers from Europe, the US, Japan... switching to ordering from Vietnamese enterprises instead of from China. According to these customers, currently products of the same type and quality from China are priced much higher than those from Vietnam.

Mr. Dang Quoc Hung, Vice President of HAWA, said that this is an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises, but also a challenge. “Because recently, besides the positive signs from orders, we have also received feedback from partners about some weaknesses, especially delays in delivery. This is a reality because the production capacity of Vietnamese enterprises is still quite small, lacking stability, especially coordination and division of labor. Having large orders requires enterprises to make reasonable calculations. Taking on too much, lacking division of labor and coordination leading to late delivery, unstable quality will gradually make us lose credibility with customers" - Mr. Hung said.

According to TTO