Vietnamese bananas gain foothold in Japan
Vietnamese bananas are becoming increasingly common in Japanese grocery stores as the long-standing dominance of imports from the Philippines begins to decline, Nikkei Asia reported.
Japanese trade statistics show that imports of Vietnamese bananas reached 33,000 tonnes in 2024 — almost 14 times higher than in 2019, raising Vietnam’s market share in Japan from just 0.2% to 3.2%. In July alone, exports of Vietnamese bananas to the Tokyo region more than doubled compared to the same period last year.
Although Vietnamese bananas still account for a relatively small share of Japan’s total imports, the surge is chipping away at the Philippines’ domination of the market. Vietnam is now Japan’s third-largest banana supplier, behind only the Philippines and Ecuador.
Industry insiders attribute this rapid growth to competitive prices and good quality.
A wholesale agricultural produce trader at Tokyo’s Ota Market noted that Vietnamese bananas have been seen more frequently in the market, adding that he first encountered boxes of the fruit from Vietnam in around 2023.
Cultivation costs in Vietnam are lower than those of the Philippines and other major producers. The country's relatively close proximity to Japan compared to producers in Latin America like Mexio and Ecuador are also said to contribute to lower transport expenses.
In Tokyo, one grocery chain sells Vietnamese bananas for around 10% less than their Philippine counterparts. Vietnam also enjoys favourable trade terms under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which has reduced Japanese tariffs on Vietnamese bananas to 5.4%, with full removal scheduled for 2028 — a factor expected to further enhance Vietnam’s price competitiveness.
Banana exports poised to reach US$4 billion in near future
Vietnam's banana industry has the potential to achieve an export value of US$4 billion, according to Pham Quoc Liem, chairman of U&I Agriculture Corporation (Unifarm).
