HCM CITY — Sweden’s wood materials industry sees Việt Nam’s wood processing industry as a potential market for its eco-friendly, competitive and sustainable materials, speakers at a seminar said.

“Sweden will be a potential source of additional materials for Việt Nam, with the import value currently increasing,” said Huỳnh Văn Hạnh, vice chairman of the HCM City Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (HAWA).

Hạnh spoke at a seminar held in the city’s District 7 on Thursday as part of the 12th Việt Nam International Woodworking Industry Fair at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) from October 18-21.

About 50 Swedish sawmills suppliers, Vietnamese wood producers and many others attended the seminar.

Pereric Hogberg, Sweden’s Ambassador to Việt Nam, said that Sweden’s sustainable forest management maintained a balance between economic wood production and respect for wildlife, outdoor recreation, employment and local interests.

“I am very impressed by Việt Nam’s fast-growing wood processing industry, and there is a large potential for Swedish wood suppliers to supply high quality and sustainable raw materials to Vietnamese manufacturers,” she said.

Sweden, the world’s third largest exporter of sawn wood, exports 13 million of total 18 million cubic metres of sawn and planed timber.

Japan and China are the biggest markets for the Swedish sawmill industry.

Việt Nam is the fifth largest exporter of wood worldwide, the second largest in Asia, and the largest in Southeast Asia. Its key export markets are the US, China, Japan and the EU.

Việt Nam’s furniture industry is growing steadily, resulting in increased demand for materials, according to Hạnh.

Việt Nam’s exports were estimated at US$7 billion last year and are expected to increase to $10 billion by 2020. Last year, about $1.7 billion of wood materials were imported for production needs. — VNS