A trade mission by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to Vietnam promises to be a valuable future resource for Washington wheat growers.
“Vietnam is a top market for soft white wheat and it is a growth market for U.S. wheat,” Casey Chumrau, executive director of the Washington Wheat Commission, said Wednesday.
“They have a growing middle class and increased demand for wheat. Any time we get a chance to interact with our customers and thank them for their purchases and look forward to new purchases, is a great opportunity for us.”
Chumrau said the trade mission, which is going on now between the Washington agriculture department and Vietnam’s minister of agriculture and rural development, is not likely to produce additional wheat sales immediately.
“But it’s part of a continued long-term effort to build that relationship and talk about the benefits and value of Washington wheat,” Chumrau said. “It’s just another opportunity for us to hear from them directly and see how they’re using the product.”
According to a news release, Derek Sandison, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Hoang Trung, Vietnam’s vice minister of agriculture and rural development, signed a memorandum of understanding Monday in Vietnam agreeing to work together to strengthen agricultural development and the promotion of agricultural trade.
The agriculture delegation is focused on expanding business connections, promoting Washington food agricultural products, and learning more about opportunities in the Vietnamese market. Delegates represent products including wheat and wheat flour, apples, wine, cherries and hay.
The delegation includes Commerce Director Michael Fong, Sandison, Office of Financial Management Director David Schumacher, state senators Joe Nguyn and June Robinson, and state representatives My-Linh Thai and Steve Tharinger.
Vietnam is among the fastest-growing economies in Asia, with several advanced manufacturing sectors setting up shop in the country. Washington companies with a presence in Vietnam include Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Brooks and SSA Marine. In 2023, Vietnam was Washington state’s fifth-largest export market when including agriculture such as apples, wheat and dairy. Last year Washington apple exports alone reached $57 million.
Trade mission activities include meetings with Vietnamese leaders, visits to various manufacturing facilities and innovation centers, meetings with cultural and higher education leaders, as well as business networking and product promotion events. Much of the itinerary is focused on strengthening trade and collaboration opportunities in advanced technology sectors such as agriculture, clean energy and artificial intelligence.
According to U.S. Wheat Associates, Vietnam’s purchases of U.S. wheat grew 20% from 2023 to this year. The country is one of the top 10 importers of Pacific Northwest-grown wheat that includes hard red spring, soft white wheat and hard red winter varieties.
“It truly is a growth market so we would expect the volume from the PNW will increase in terms of bushels,” Chumrau said. “And I would say, they’re a traditionally rice-consuming nation but over the last decade wheat consumption has grown 32% and rice consumption is down 12%.
“So we’re seeing a shift of a lot of potential in Vietnam and changing preferences.”
The soft white wheat grown in the Pacific Northwest and exported to Vietnam and other Asian countries is most often used in confectionary products and noodles.
Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.