Vietnamese firms urged to focus on high-quality tea products

The article highlights the dynamic growth and opportunities within Vietnam's tea industry from 2018 to 2023, with an annual export volume of 125,000 to 140,000 tonnes valued between US$220 and US$240 million. While the majority of exports were standard green and black teas, there was a notable demand for high-end specialty teas, despite their higher prices. Nguyễn Đăng Bền, the General Director of IGV JSC, which owns the Thạch Cổ Trà brand, emphasized the potential of specialty teas to bring greater profits and international appeal, especially in collecting and investment markets, as seen with Chinese Pu'er tea. Leveraging Vietnam's unique primaeval tea forests and the presence of ancient tea trees, the industry could tap into a potential market worth $3.5 billion annually, serving both local and international markets. Additionally, the industry's expansion is supported by the Vietnamese government's designation of tea as a key industrial crop and efforts to boost the livelihoods of tea growers through tourism.