31 August 2026 | Vietnam – Europe – Asia
Welcome to the Euro Connections Daily Business Brief — a concise selection of key developments, business opportunities and market signals affecting trade, sourcing and investment between Vietnam, Europe and Asia.
Our focus is not only on what is happening, but also on what it means in practice for companies operating across these markets.
1. Vietnam’s Coffee Exports Exceed US$6 Billion — Europe Remains a Key Market
Vietnam exported nearly 1.7 million tonnes of coffee worth more than US$6 billion during the first eight months of 2026.
Export volume increased by more than 10% year-on-year, although export value declined by 11.2% due to lower international prices.
The European Union and the United States remain Vietnam’s key coffee export markets, while Asian markets — particularly China — are becoming increasingly important growth drivers.
Around 30% of Vietnam’s coffee-growing area currently holds sustainability certifications, an increasingly important factor for access to demanding international markets.
Business Implication
The opportunity in Vietnamese coffee is increasingly moving beyond simply finding a producer offering a competitive price.
European buyers need suppliers capable of providing:
traceability | sustainability certification | stable quality | reliable supply | export documentation | compliance with European requirements
This creates opportunities for structured sourcing projects covering green coffee, roasted coffee, instant coffee, speciality coffee and private-label products.
Source:
Saigon Giai Phong – Vietnam’s coffee exports top US$6 billion in first eight months of 2026
2. Vietnam’s EVFTA Advantage Is Increasing Competitive Pressure in Europe
Vietnam is entering the seventh year of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
An assessment by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion indicates that Vietnam’s preferential access to nearly 99% of EU tariff lines is strengthening the competitiveness of Vietnamese products in Europe.
The impact is particularly important in sectors including:
agriculture | food | textiles | footwear | furniture | electronics | global supply-chain products.
Business Implication
For European importers, comparing Asian suppliers should no longer be based only on factory prices.
A Vietnamese supplier with a slightly higher FOB price may ultimately be more competitive once tariffs and other market-access factors are included.
The correct comparison should increasingly be:
FOB price + tariff + logistics + compliance costs + lead time + supply risk = real landed cost in Europe
For European companies sourcing in Asia, EVFTA can therefore significantly influence supplier-selection decisions.
Source:
The Nation Thailand – Vietnam’s EVFTA advantage raises pressure on Thai exporters
3. Supplier Verification Is Becoming More Important Than Simply Finding Suppliers
The inaugural CRIF Forum Vietnam 2026, held in Hanoi on 27 August, highlighted the increasing importance of reliable corporate data, transparency and credibility in Vietnam’s next stage of economic development.
As Vietnam moves toward higher-value production and deeper participation in global supply chains, companies are increasingly expected to compete not only on price and manufacturing capacity but also on transparency, credibility and quality of business information.
Reliable information about companies, suppliers, partners and commercial relationships is becoming increasingly important for investment decisions, financing and international trade.
Business Implication
Finding potential suppliers has become relatively easy.
The real challenge begins afterwards:
Does the company actually manufacture the product?
Does it have the declared production capacity?
Has it exported internationally before?
Are its certificates valid?
Can its documentation be verified?
Is the company financially and operationally reliable?
This creates growing demand for professional Supplier Verification before European companies commit significant capital or place major orders.
A structured verification process may include:
Company verification → Factory verification → Export history → Certifications → Production capacity → Documentation → Management meeting → Risk assessment.
Sources:
CRIF Vietnam – CRIF Forum Vietnam 2026: Trusted data and business credibility
Vietnam News – Trusted data key to Vietnam’s next growth chapter
4. New 336-Hectare Industrial Park Creates Another Manufacturing Option in Southern Vietnam
The Tan Lan 3 Industrial Park project in Tay Ninh Province has entered the implementation phase following approval of its investment policy.
The industrial park will cover approximately 336 hectares and require total investment of around VND8.45 trillion — approximately US$324 million.
The project has a planned operating term of 50 years and represents another potential location for manufacturers and supply-chain companies considering future production capacity in southern Vietnam.
Business Implication
European companies evaluating manufacturing investment in Vietnam should not automatically limit their analysis to established industrial centres.
The correct location decision requires comparison of several factors:
land and operating costs | logistics | infrastructure | workforce | supplier ecosystem | permitted industries | access to ports | future expansion potential
For market-entry projects, comparing several industrial locations before making an investment decision can significantly reduce long-term operational risk.
Source:
The Investor – Inside Tan Lan 3: a 336-ha industrial park to take shape in southern Vietnam
5. More Than 500 Global Buyers Are Coming to Vietnam to Find Suppliers
From 3–5 September 2026, Ho Chi Minh City will host Vietnam International Sourcing 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center.
The event is one of Vietnam’s key international trade-promotion initiatives and is designed specifically to connect Vietnamese manufacturers with international buyers and global supply chains.
More than 500 international buyers are expected, with sourcing requirements covering sectors including:
food | seafood | agriculture | plastics | textiles | furniture | consumer goods | logistics | shipbuilding.
The official sourcing platform also provides access to a 2026 Buyer List, making it possible to identify companies and sourcing requirements before meetings take place.
Business Implication
Trade exhibitions should not simply be treated as networking events.
Each specific buyer requirement can potentially become a structured sourcing project:
Buyer → Requirement → Vietnamese Supplier Search → Supplier Verification → Introduction → Negotiation → Transaction.
For European companies without their own permanent team in Vietnam, local representation can significantly reduce the time and risk involved in this process.
Sources:
Official Vietnam International Sourcing 2026 website
Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade – Vietnam International Sourcing 2026
Vietnam News – Over 500 global buyers set to join Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2026
EURO CONNECTIONS – BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OF THE DAY
Vietnam Coffee → European Market
Vietnam’s coffee export performance creates an interesting sourcing opportunity for European importers, distributors and private-label companies.
Instead of simply searching for “coffee producers in Vietnam,” the process should begin with the European buyer’s actual requirement:
European Buyer Requirement
↓
Product Specification
↓
Vietnamese Producer Shortlist
↓
Traceability & Certification Check
↓
Samples & Cupping
↓
FOB/CIF Quotation
↓
Commercial Negotiation
↓
Supplier Verification
↓
First Shipment
The commercial value is not in providing a list of factories.
The value comes from finding the right supplier, verifying its capabilities and managing the process until a reliable international business relationship is established.
EURO CONNECTIONS PERSPECTIVE
Vietnam’s competitive position is evolving rapidly.
The country is no longer competing only through manufacturing costs.
Its future advantage will increasingly depend on a combination of:
Competitive Manufacturing + Trade Agreements + Compliance + Traceability + Transparency + Reliable Supply Chains.
For European companies, this creates significant opportunities — but also makes professional local execution increasingly important.
Finding suppliers is becoming easy. Finding the right supplier, verifying them and turning the relationship into a reliable international transaction is where the real value begins.
Euro Connections | Connecting Europe with Vietnam and ASEAN
