Fruit and vegetable exports gross nearly US$5.6 billion this year

December alone witnessed Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports edge up 1.8% to over U$379 million compared to the previous month and up 23.8% against the same period from last year.

The country’s top 10 fruit and vegetable export markets include China, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Taiwan (China), Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia.

In particular, China remains the largest importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables with the 11-month turnover reaching US$3.4 billion, representing an increase of nearly 250% in value and 65% of the overall market share compared to the same period from last year.

Most notably, durian surpassed dragon fruit to become the product recording the highest export revenue last year. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, attributed the increase in export turnover to the fact that the nation has signed many export protocols with several foreign markets, especially the Chinese market.

Moreover, a remarkable growth in durian exports to the northern neighbour has contributed to the high export growth of fruit and vegetables.

Nguyen revealed that since durian was exported to the market via an official channel last year, export turnover of the product has skyrocketed with US$420 million.

Durian exports are predicted to reach US$2.3 billion this year, representing a five-fold rise compared to 2022 and a 10-fold rise compared to 2021.

Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is in the process of stepping up negotiations for the official export of Vietnamese fresh chili peppers and coconuts to the Chinese market.

With Vietnam's frozen durian likely to be exported to China next year, fruit and vegetable exports are forecast to increase significantly.