According to the General Department of Customs, fruit and vegetable export turnover over the past nine months of 2025 exceeded US$6.11 billion, with September alone recording nearly 40% growth compared with the previous month.

The main driver was durian, the standout product in this year’s agricultural export market. Three key factors contributed to this surge: supply from major exporting countries like Thailand has declined while Vietnam enters the main harvest season in the Central Highlands; demand in China surged due to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, when consumers have longer breaks and higher spending capacity; and Vietnamese durian prices are currently more accessible, enabling middle-class Chinese consumers, a new potential customer segment, to purchase the fruit.

Other Vietnamese fruits, including coconuts, bananas, pineapples, and passion fruit, also show positive trends. Supply constraints remain, particularly for coconuts and pineapples. The protocol on fresh coconut exports signed between Vietnam and China on August 19, 2024, is expected to facilitate shipments this year, potentially raising fresh coconut exports to US$600 million, alongside processed products and handicrafts derived from coconuts.

The year 2025 began with challenges, as early export forecasts were only around US$5.5 billion due to strict control measures from the Chinese market, which caused durian shipments to be blocked or returned. However, since July, fruit exports have rebounded strongly, with September achieving impressive growth, prompting an upward revision of the annual target to US$8 billion, a remarkable achievement for Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

This success stems from close coordination between ministries and the swift adaptation of farmers and businesses. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, worked directly with Chinese customs, guided safe production practices, and negotiated market-opening protocols, thereby creating favorable conditions for exports.

Thanks to these efforts, the fruit and vegetable sector not only overcame early-year obstacles but also laid the groundwork to reach the US$10 billion export target sooner than previously expected, potentially 1-2 years ahead of schedule.

Fruit and vegetable exports rebound, targeting US$8 billion in 2025

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports have shown signs of strong recovery, with the total export value in the first seven months of 2025 estimated at over US$3.83 billion, following a sharp decline earlier this year.