Vietnam’s vegetable exports reach record high

Over eight months, Vietnam’s exports of fruits and vegetables reached approximately US$3.5 billion, marking an almost 56% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2022 and establishing a record high.

Harvesting durians in Lam Dong Province. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The country’s export value of fruits and vegetables during the period has surged past the entirety of last year's figures, as indicated by preliminary customs data.

This achievement has been primarily driven by the substantial contributions of durian and dragon fruit. Notably, durian exports alone accounted for 30% of the total turnover over the eight months. Forecasts suggest that durian's momentum will likely propel vegetable and fruit exports to surpass this year's targets of $5 billion.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (VinaFruit), attributed the positive export performance of these commodities to heightened demand from the Chinese market.

Moreover, the repercussions of droughts and floods in various countries prompted an increased import of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables.

Anticipating September, when supplies from Southeast Asian nations become scarcer, the price of Vietnamese durian is expected to continue its ascent. The projection for durian exports throughout the entire year stands at around $1.5 billion.

In the immediate future, Vietnam's jackfruit is poised for a significant surge in the Chinese market, driven by heightened demand in that country. In particular, China is moving towards allowing the official export of Vietnamese fresh coconuts. Approval of this move would lead to remarkable advancements in coconut exports, particularly following recent US permission for Vietnam to export fresh coconuts.

Within the context of the Dong Dang - Lang Son economic zone, the management board highlights China's consistent quality requirements for Vietnamese agricultural exports, particularly in terms of pest control for fruits.

China maintains a stringent regime of 100% inspection for agricultural products and fruits imported from Vietnam. Should any pests be detected, China responds with severity, potentially resulting in the entire shipment being sent back. As a result, authorities advise businesses to exercise vigilance and strict quality control to avoid compromising their reputation within a market of billions.

As per the records from the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, China stands as the primary destination for the import of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. Over 7 months, the export value of these products to China amounted to $2 billion, reflecting a remarkable surge of over 128% in comparison to the corresponding period in 2022.

The US follows as the second largest export market, with exports of fruits and vegetables reaching slightly over $140 million, albeit marking a decrease of more than 11% in contrast to the same timeframe last year. The South Korean market witnessed an increase to $125 million, up by 13%, while Japan recorded an export value of $105.6 million, marking a growth of 5.5% compared to previous statistics.