Vinarice, a member company of Vinaseed Group, in August received over $136,000 from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) for producing low-emission rice across 21,000 hectares of rice fields, contributing to a reduction of 89,000 tonnes of CO2 during the 2024-2025 winter-spring crop season.

Previously, Vinarice made a mark with a record reduction of almost 3,900 tonnes of CO2 and received an award worth over $18,000. The entire area participating in the project of the company was also granted the Vietnam Green & Low-Emission Rice logo certified by the Vietnam Rice Industry Association.

An SNV representative stated that the achievements from two seasons of participating in the project recognised Vinaseed’s efforts in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the production chain and contributed to aim of cultivating one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.

“This is a step in line with the global goal to limit the earth’s temperature increase and paves the way for Vietnam to build a national rice brand and sell carbon credits by 2028,” an SNV representative said.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE), the agricultural sector emitted approximately 92.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent last year, accounting for 17.6 per cent of the country’s total GHG emissions. Specifically, rice cultivation alone contributed to about 75-80 per cent of the total methane emissions in the entire agricultural sector.

Vietnam launched the one million hectare low-emission rice initiative in 2023 across five localities. Initial results have shown that the model has helped reduce production costs by 8.2-24.2 per cent thanks to saving on seeds, fertilisers, pesticide sprays, and irrigation water.

The MoAE estimated that this rice cultivation model helps increase productivity by up to 7 per cent, farmers’ income by 12-50 per cent, and profits by $160-340 per hectare compared to traditional farming practices. The new model also assists in reducing 2-12 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare.

According to World Bank estimates, the Mekong Delta project could reduce 10 million tonnes of carbon per year and fetch carbon credits worth $100 million annually, at an estimated $10 per credit.

However, only a few firms have ventured into this area. In June, Trung An High-Tech Farming, in partnership with the Vietnam Rice Industry Association, exported its first 500-tonne batch of low-emission of rice to Japan at a selling price of $820 per tonne, nearly double the typical price.

Pham Thai Binh, director of Trung An Hi-Tech Farming, said that the company has entered into a joint venture with Murase Group from Japan to collaborate on cultivating various high-quality rice varieties in the Mekong Delta region. In 2024, both parties continued to enhance their cooperation in growing many varieties of rice that meet the low-emission rice standards according as per the project. The first export batch is part of 20,000 tonnes recognised under the same label.

“After the success of the first batch, Trung An plans to export a second batch of 3,000 tonnes to the Japanese market. We are also preparing to export to Australia,” Binh said.

Truong Duy Hai, deputy general director of A An Food JSC., assessed that low-emission rice will be a consumption trend that individuals in the higher-income bracket will gravitate towards. Recognising the potential of these products, since 2024, the company has expanded rice cultivation areas linked to low-emission rice production through participation in the SNV’s first project, covering over 600ha. As of July 2025, the cultivation area has been expanded to more than 3,500ha.

“By changing farmers’ perceptions towards high-quality, sustainable rice cultivation, we are able to easily access high-end export market segments that demand superior product quality such as Japan, and Europe, aiming to bring the Vietnamese rice brand to discerning consumers in these challenging markets,” Hai said.

Vietnam has brought about 180,000ha of rice under high-quality, low-emission cultivation, marking key progress in its one-million-hectare plan, according to the MoAE.

The achievement strengthens prospects for international cooperation, particularly with Japan, which has already partnered with Vietnam on 14 projects and issued over 35,000 carbon credits under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

In the next phase, the two countries aim to advance low-carbon agriculture, focusing on alternate wetting and drying techniques in rice farming to cut emissions and generate high-quality carbon credits.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Dinh Tho, deputy director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment under the MoAE said, “Scaling up low-emission rice cultivation through the JCM will boost farmer incomes, strengthen climate resilience, and highlight Vietnam’s role in building a green agriculture sector.”

SSI, one of Vietnam’s leading securities firms, is conducting a private placement of 104 million shares to 18 professional investors, aiming to raise VND3.25 trillion ($130 million). Daiwa Securities has registered to buy nearly 16 million shares at VND31,300 ($1.25) each, a transaction worth over VND497 billion (around $19.9 million).

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. is already SSI’s largest shareholder, holding over 301 million shares, equivalent to over 15.25 per cent stake in the company. If the transaction is successful, Daiwa’s shareholding will increase to over 317 million shares. The transaction is scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 26.

Daiwa Securities Group is one of Japan’s ‘Big Four’ securities conglomerates, alongside Nomura, SMBC Nikko, and Mizuho. Established in 1902, the group operates in various sectors, including brokerage, investment, and asset management.

In 2011, Daiwa became a strategic shareholder of SSI by acquiring a 20 per cent stake. Last November, Daiwa exercised its right to purchase an additional 23.2 million SSI shares in a rights issue for existing shareholders.

SSI’s Board of Directors approved a plan on August 12 to offer more than 104 million shares in a private placement to 18 professional investors, including 14 institutions and four individuals.

At VND31,300 ($1.25) per share, the company aims to raise VND3.25 trillion ($130 million), with half allocated to investing in certificates of deposit and half for margin lending.

SSI recorded operating revenue of VND2.99 trillion ($119.6 million) in the second quarter of 2025, up nearly 30 per cent on-year. After-tax profit reached VND968 billion ($38.7 million), the highest in nearly four years.

For the first six months, SSI achieved revenue of VND5.15 trillion ($206 million) and profit of VND1.8 trillion ($72 million), up 20 per cent and 11 per cent respectively compared to the same period last year, surpassing 54 per cent of its annual target.

As of June 30, SSI’s total assets reached nearly VND92 trillion ($3.6 billion), an increase of VND19 trillion ($760 million) from the beginning of the year. Equity stood at approximately VND27.7 trillion ($1.17 billion), while margin lending hit a record of VND32.8 trillion ($1.3 billion), providing significant momentum for SSI to continue its strong performance in the upcoming quarters.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE) is publicly soliciting opinions from agencies, organisations, businesses, and relevant stakeholders on the draft decree regulating the recycling responsibilities for products and packaging, as well as the waste management responsibilities of producers and importers.

EPR is gradually being embraced by businesses as a vital part of their sustainability strategies, photo Le Toan

Ho Kien Trung, deputy director of the Department of Environment under the MoAE, said extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a crucial policy tool to promote the responsibility of producers and importers in collecting, recycling, and managing post-use products and packaging.

“The 2020 Environmental Protection Law marks a significant milestone by clearly stipulating the recycling and waste management responsibilities of producers and importers,” Trung said.

“However, as EPR is a new policy, some regulations still need clarification and resolution. Thus, this decree not only specifies the mechanisms for implementing the responsibility but also clarifies regulations on financial mechanisms to support recycling and waste management, creating a transparent, feasible legal framework aligned with the practical requirements of environmental management in the new era.”

The draft 2025 EPR decree largely incorporates the provisions of Decree No.08/2022/ND-CP on elaboration of several articles of the Law on Environmental Protection and Decree No.05/2025/ND-CP, which amend and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 08, while supplementing and clarifying certain regulations based on practical implementation.

It also provides detailed provisions on mechanisms to support recycling and waste management funded by contributions from producers and importers.

“Recent practical experience shows EPR is a new policy with a broad scope, affecting various groups such as producers, importers, and recycling businesses,” said Nguyen Hung Thinh, deputy director of the Department of Environment and a representative of the decree drafting committee.

“However, many businesses still face limitations in accessing and fully understanding EPR regulations due to the lack of a cohesive regulatory system. Currently, EPR-related provisions are integrated into comprehensive environmental decrees, which results in fragmented regulations that are difficult to reference and implement consistently,” Thinh added.

The decree drafting committee noted that developing a standalone decree comprehensively addressing EPR is both necessary and appropriate. Consolidating all EPR-related regulations into a single, independent legal document not only addresses current shortcomings but also systematises regulations in a centralised, unified, and transparent manner. This facilitates businesses in referencing and fulfilling their responsibilities, as well as supports state agencies in providing guidance, management, and oversight.

At the Green Packaging Forum in Hanoi two weeks ago, Nguyen Thanh Yen, deputy head of the Legal Issues and Policies Division of the Department of Environment under the MoAE, emphasised the central role of businesses in implementing EPR and boosting the circular economy.

He mentioned that EPR is gradually being embraced by businesses as an indispensable part of sustainable development strategy. The policy is not only about the collection and treatment of post-consumer packaging but also serves as a starting point for businesses to improve product design, optimise packaging materials and lifecycle, better manage recycling processes, and minimise environmental impact.

“In the fast-moving consumer goods sector, where packaging has a short lifecycle and high consumption rate, EPR helps businesses enhance their competitive capacity, increase compliance with international standards, and gradually integrate into global supply chains with stricter requirements on ESG,” Yen added.

Bui Le Thanh Khiet, head of the Plastic Waste Circular Economy Group at the Institute for Circular Economy Development, said the food and beverage industry is most affected by EPR due to the volume of packaging discarded annually.

According to Wifitalents’ Food Packaging Industry Statistics 2025, approximately 78 million tonnes of plastic from food packaging are generated every year. Businesses are required to declare and report through the national electronic EPR system and can choose to recycle on their own or contribute to the Environment Protection Fund.

“First and foremost, businesses need to invest in collection, classification, and recycling infrastructure, promote the application of modern processing technologies, expand cooperation with environmental technology startups, and implement digital transformation in packaging and waste management,” Khiet stated.

In the food sector, Sao Khue Food JSC (SKfood) has launched rice straws, a small product with great environmental value since 2019.

This type of straw can biodegrade on its own, without the need for collection. If released into the water environment, it will become food for fish, and when it enters the soil, it will decompose into natural fertiliser.

Pham Thi Bich Phuong, sales director of SKfood, stated, “Exporting to demanding markets implies that products must meet strict environmental standards. By meeting them, SKfood has quickly conquered the European market, where plastic straws are completely banned.”

New tax frameworks are expected to help enterprises get more funding and expand domestic production, photo Le Toan

According to the draft decree on guiding the implementation of the Law on Corporate Income Tax (CIT), which has been submitted for approval, the Ministry of Finance proposes expanding incentives, extending periods of tax exemption and reduction, and applying lower tax rates for prioritised projects.

These aim to support businesses and promote investment in key sectors and priority areas.

Under the draft, enterprises with income eligible for incentives under this law will be exempt from CIT for four years and benefit from a 50 per cent tax reduction for the following nine years.

This exemption and reduction policy also applies to income generated from enterprises operating in vocational education and high-level skills training, provided they are located in incentivised areas.

If such enterprises operate outside these incentivised areas, the four-year tax exemption still applies, but the 50 per cent tax reduction is limited to a maximum of five subsequent years.

For certain other categories, the tax incentives are defined as a two-year exemption and a 50 per cent decrease for the following four years. In the case of new ventures in especially encouraged sectors, the government is authorised to extend the exemption and reduction period up to 1.5 times the standard duration mentioned above, provided that the total incentive period does not surpass the lifespan of the project.

The draft specifies that the tax exemption and reduction period is calculated from the first year the enterprise generates taxable income from the undertaking. If the enterprise does not have taxable income within the first three years of generating revenue, the exemption and reduction period will start from the fourth year.

The draft also includes detailed provisions regarding tax incentives for business expansion. If an enterprise expands its operations, whether by increasing scale, enhancing capacity, upgrading technology, reducing pollution, or improving the environment, any additional income generated from the expansion will receive the same tax incentives as the existing scheme for the remainder of the applicable period.

The draft decree also proposes a preferential tax rate of 10 per cent for 15 years for income from certain new projects in incentivised sectors or in areas with difficult or extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions. Eligible areas include high-tech zones, high-tech agricultural zones, dedicated digital technology parks, and economic zones subject to tax incentives.

Additionally, a 10 per cent tax rate without a time limit will apply to specific cases, such as enterprises operating in incentivised sectors within incentivised locations; publishers, cooperatives, and cooperative unions operating under current regulations; and media agencies carrying out activities aligned with priority sectors.

A tax rate of 15 per cent is proposed for income generated from specific business activities not located in incentivised areas.

For new initiatives in certain priority sectors, implemented in economic zones or areas with difficult socioeconomic conditions (but not in areas qualifying for special incentives), a preferential tax rate of 17 per cent will be applied for a period of 10 years. For certain specific activities, the 17 per cent tax rate may be applied indefinitely.

These consist of new investments with capital of $240,000 or more, those producing globally competitive products, achieving annual revenue of $800 million within five years of revenue generation, consistently employing 6,000 workers or more, or investing in essential economic and technical infrastructure.

The draft decree, once enacted, is expected to create momentum for the country to pull in more funding and expand domestic production.

Figures from the National Statistics Office showed that in the first seven months of 2025, the number of businesses registering to halt performance hit 88,600, up 13.6 per cent on-year.

Moreover, 41,500 enterprises halted operations to await dissolution procedures, up 16.7 per cent on-year; and 14,300 businesses completed such procedures, up 20.5 per cent on-year. On average each month, 20,600 enterprises left the market.

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Smaller businesses the focal point of CIT law amendments Hundreds of thousands of smaller enterprises in Vietnam are set to benefit from a reduction in corporate income tax from next year, meaning more opportunities to improve their competitiveness.

CIT specifics address smaller firms Hundreds of thousands of micro- and small-sized enterprises in Vietnam will be entitled to a decrease in corporate income tax from this October, meaning more opportunities to ameliorate their competitiveness.

Vietnam’s outlook for imports, exports, and cargo throughput via seaports is considered favourable in the forthcoming months, as the country faces a 20 per cent reciprocal tariff rate from the United States, significantly lower than China’s 55 per cent and India’s 25 per cent, and on par with Bangladesh.

At the same time, Vietnamese exporters are effectively leveraging preferential tariffs through the country’s extensive network of free trade agreements, allowing for more flexible and efficient operations.

As the global economy improves, trade demand is expected to rise sharply, thereby stimulating import-export activities and the entire logistics supply chain.

In the long term, Shinhan Securities predicts that high US tariffs on imports, especially from China, will shift trade flows, making intra-Asia and Asia-Europe routes more active, as Vietnamese firms diversify their export markets to reduce dependence on the US.

Hanoi-based Hai Minh JSC has established new agency offices in Hong Kong and India, and plans to launch new services on the Ho Chi Minh City – Shanghai – Port Klang route. It also intends to set up an agency for an Asian shipping line in Haiphong.

Meanwhile, Hai An Transport and Stevedoring JSC is planning to further expand its fleet over the next five years, aiming for longer routes such as the Mediterranean, Europe, and the US West Coast.

The development of larger-sized vessels is in line with Hai An’s long-term strategy to enter trade lanes that account for nearly 40 per cent of global container traffic.

Hai An currently operates 17 container vessels with a total capacity of 28,200 TEUs, primarily serving domestic and intra-Asia routes.

The company’s board of directors recently approved a plan to build two new container vessels in China, each with a capacity of 2,300 TEUs, with a total investment of up to $92 million.

According to Hai An’s leadership, over the past five years since the company began leasing out vessels, this business segment has become increasingly significant, currently contributing about 60 per cent of total revenue, while self-operated services account for the remaining 40 per cent.

Shinhan Securities expects Hai An’s business performance in the second half of the year to remain favourable, driven by strong freight rates for new vessels and the launch of additional intra-Asia routes amid rising global trade demand.

For Gemadept Corporation (GMD), MB Securities forecasts that the company will increase its cargo volume on intra-Asia routes and expand into new markets to offset the decline in US-bound shipments.

In addition, higher service fees are expected to contribute positively to Gemadept’s second-half business results. MB Securities’ forecasts suggest Gemadept’s net profit will grow by 16.5 per cent in 2025 and 14.4 per cent in 2026.

Vietnam Container Shipping JSC (Vinconship: ticker VSC) stated that it is not heavily reliant on the US market, as it focuses on domestic and intra-Asia routes.

Goods exported to the US only account for about 3.9 per cent of the company’s total handling volume. Furthermore, the company has prepared contingency plans to mitigate any potential tariff impacts.

Becoming a major shareholder in both Vinaship JSC and Hai An has helped Viconship improve profitability through indirect revenue streams from the two firms.

Both Vinaship and Hai An are expected to witness profit growth in 2025, benefiting from the trend of front-loading shipments, early orders placed ahead of potential tariff changes, thereby boosting Viconship’s financial results.

In mid-August, Viconship and Hai An announced they will establish Hai An Green Shipping Lines Co., Ltd., with an expected investment of around $180 million to build a pair of 7,000 TEU container vessels.

Overall, logistics enterprises remain among the sectors with strong long-term prospects. Vu Thanh Hai, chairman of Hai An JSC, noted that Vietnam is targeting at least 8 per cent economic growth this year and double-digit growth between 2026 and 2030.

“As the economy improves, trade demand will rise significantly, further stimulating import-export activities and the entire logistics supply chain,” he said.

On the stock market, VSC shares recorded five consecutive ceiling gains from August 12 to 18. Other maritime transport stocks also saw positive momentum, such VSC rising more than 26 per cent in value, and GMD increasing by 3.6 per cent.

In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam’s total import-export value reached $514.7 billion, up 16.3 per cent on-year. Imports totalled $252.26 billion, up 17.9 per cent; while exports reached $262.4 billion, up 14.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Alongside export growth, seaport operations have remained vibrant.

According to the Haiphong Maritime Administration, as of the end of July, total cargo throughput via Haiphong’s ports had reached 65.5 million tonnes, showing a 7 per cent jump on-year.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Administration, in the first half of 2025, container throughput at Cai Mep – Thi Vai (including domestic cargo) reached 5.96 million TEUs, up 17 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The fourth quarter, the peak season for retail and import-export activities, is expected to maintain the bustling pace at seaports, providing a boost to maritime transport and logistics companies.

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Pros and cons must be tackled in logistics industry More tariff barriers around the globe are expected to affect the logistics industry in some shape or form. Dao Trong Khoa, president of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, spoke to VIR’s Thuy Nguyen about what may lie ahead.