March 8, 2007

Canada soybean exporters eye Vietnam market
 

Canadian farmers, scientists and soybean exporters showed interest to introduce its soybeans in the Vietnamese market.

Jim Gowland, chairman of the Canadian Soybean Council, said Vietnam was considered a potential market to use soybeans in food processing since the industry has huge demand for soybeans to produce soy milk, tofu and other soybean products.

Canada's Asian markets for soybean include Japan, China, Taiwan and Singapore.

Canada now has 1.2 million hectares under soybean farming and one third of the output is exported to other countries. Gowland added that 80 percent of Canada's exported soybeans have received Identity Preserved to ensure the best hygiene quality.

According to Vietnam agricultural agencies, National Cultivation Department and management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's demand for soybean import has strongly grown.

The country mainly imports soybeans from China, Cambodia, Thailand, the United States and Canada.

Vietnam still cultivates soybeans; however, its output remains small with a total yield of 500,000 tonnes a year.