Garden decoration products on display at the fair. — VNA/VNS Photo

LONDON — Furniture products of 15 Vietnamese businesses are introduced at the Source Garden Fair in Birmingham, UK, from September 10-12.

This marks the first time Việt Nam has participated in the UK’s largest garden and outdoor furniture exhibition, drawing attention from wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.

The fair features 700-800 companies displaying garden furniture, craft products, and decor technologies, attracting about 7,000 buyers from the UK and Europe.

Việt Nam’s booth featured a wide range of outdoor wooden furniture and crafts, made from sustainably sourced materials certified by international standards. The participation of Vietnamese companies was supported by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and K&P Global Ltd, a UK company that connects Vietnamese wood manufacturers with online platforms.

First Secretary Hoàng Lê Hằng, the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, highlighted the significant interest in Vietnamese products on the first day of the fair. She noted that the event provided an excellent platform for Vietnamese businesses to strengthen their brand presence and connect with major UK and European retailers.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Garden, expressed delight at Việt Nam's first participation and encouraged more Vietnamese involvement in the UK market, affirming that Việt Nam is regarded as a major potential supplier of high-quality indoor and outdoor furniture to the UK, especially in the garden retail sector.

Raymond Tenent, Business Development Manager at K&P Global Ltd, said Brexit has created a promising opportunity for Vietnamese products, as the UK is seeking new suppliers outside of Europe. However, he advised that Vietnamese manufacturers should carefully study market trends to remain competitive with other Asian suppliers.

In 2023, Việt Nam ranked as the UK's fifth-largest supplier of wooden furniture, after China, Italy, Poland and Germany. Exports of Vietnamese wood products to the UK reached nearly US$195 million, accounting for 3.1 per cent of Việt Nam's total exports to the UK. In the first seven months of 2024, this figure rose to $124.8 million, an increase of 17.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. — VNS