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HCM CITY (VNS) — German food and drink exporters see Viet Nam as an ideal export destination and an increasingly important market.

"Viet Nam, especially in the south, is developing quickly and so we are optimistic about the future," Jan de Graaf, general director of German Food Asia Company Ltd, said.

In recent years, German food and drink exports had grown faster in Viet Nam than in other countries, he told Viet Nam News.

In 2012, export value in Viet Nam doubled to 85 million euros ($111.8 million), compared to 2010, when it was 44 million euros (US$57.9 million). German food and drink exports grew only 20 per cent in China during the same period.

"The biggest part of the increase was due to the rise in products of animal origin," Jan de Graaf said.

"In terms of absolute export volume in 2012, malt, beer, milk and potato products topped the list. But in terms of absolute export value, milk products, baking seeds, malt and potato products were the top four product categories," he added. In the future, exports might increase further as Viet Nam still cannot produce all of what it needs, according to de Graaf. Milk, for example, is in high demand in Viet Nam, while there is an oversupply of milk products in Germany.

In addition, because Viet Nam is developing quickly and the standard of living is rising, the country wants to diversify its food imports to include products from other countries, such as Thai and Western food.

Germany's food industry is the largest in Europe. —VNS