Fruit and vegetable exports experiencing robust growth

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in the first seven months of 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover is estimated to have reached over $3.8 billion, a 23.4 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Experts suggest that the export turnover could reach a record $7 billion for 2024.

Fruit and vegetable exports continue to benefit from increased demand in traditional markets like China and potential markets such as South Korea, the United States, Japan, and Thailand. Among the top 10 import markets for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, most recorded growth rates between 15 per cent and 96 per cent.

China maintains its position as the largest market, accounting for 64 per cent of total export turnover with $2.1 billion in the first half of the year, a 22 per cent increase on-year. South Korea and the US follow, reaching $164 million and over $157 million respectively, with impressive growth rates of 55 per cent and 33 per cent.

Key products contributing to this growth include durian, bananas, and dragon fruit. Durian is particularly popular in the Chinese market, both fresh and processed.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the demand for processed durian in China is rapidly increasing due to high fresh durian prices and limited accessibility for many consumers. Developing processed durian products is an important strategy to increase market share in this market.

Additionally, fresh Vietnamese coconuts will soon be officially exported to China, promising to add another billion-dollar fruit category. China's coconut import demand is considerable and shows steady growth year over year.

Meanwhile, China's coconut production only meets 10 per cent of domestic consumption needs, with the rest being imported. Therefore, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports to the Chinese market are expected to continue growing favourably.

Along with China, Thailand is also a bright spot in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export picture. Despite being a major global agricultural exporter with many products similar to Vietnam's, Thailand has increased its fruit and vegetable imports from Vietnam due to adverse weather conditions affecting their crops.

Unusual heat has caused Thailand's durian crop to fail and ripen unevenly, leading the country to increase durian purchases from Vietnam to make up for the shortfall.

Beyond Asian markets, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are seeing increased demand in new markets such as the United Kingdom and EU. These are markets with great potential that the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry is focusing on developing.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports will continue to enjoy new advantages in the coming period due to abundant domestic supply and increasing demand from both traditional and emerging markets.

The largest durian growing region in Vietnam, located in the Central Highlands provinces, will enter peak harvest season in September and October. Last year, this period marked record-high durian exports for Vietnam as Thailand's supply was depleted.

Moreover, thorough technical and legal preparations, such as negotiating and signing protocols for frozen durian exports to China, will create strong conditions for Vietnamese businesses to access and expand markets sustainably.

According to Nguyen Nhu Cuong, director of the Department of Crop Production, the sector will continue to monitor fruit trees closely, especially key fruits like dragon fruit, longan, durian, mango, and rambutan in the Mekong Delta, to provide appropriate guidance on crop scheduling and increase the proportion of safety-certified and GAP-certified products.

"Simultaneously, the department will review, develop, and expand production areas for key export products with favourable markets, particularly large markets. They will also establish concentrated production areas, invest in value chain development, and link production with processing and market demands," Cuong said.

In the near future, Cuong added, businesses should focus on understanding new consumer preferences in major markets. For the Chinese market, besides processed durian, products such as medicinal herbs, coconuts, and frozen fruits also show potential for import openings. Flexibility in meeting diverse market demands will be crucial for Vietnamese businesses to strengthen their position and expand market share.

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