Vietnam earned 245 million USD from fruit and vegetable exports in the first seven months of the year, down slightly by 0.2 percent over the same period in 2008, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“This light drop in context of the global recession is a good signal from the country’s fruit and vegetable export industry,” a representative from the ministry said.

In July only, the country’s fruit and vegetable export turnover was 35 million USD, according the ministry.

In the first seven months of 2009, Russia was the country’s biggest market for these goods, having bought about 9.77 percent of Vietnamese exported fruit and vegtable, equivalent to 26 million USD.

The second largest market was China with an export turnover of 24.7 million USD (about 9.59 percent). Japan was third with 7.49 percent.

According to the ministry, fruit and vegetable exports have seen positive signs since June.

Demand for these goods from some key markets, especially the EU, has increased. Many markets have high demand for processed vegetable and fruit export turnover in 2009 may reach 450 million USD, up by between 50 million USD and 60 million USD compared with 2008. To reach this goal, industry experts have studied the ecological conditions in different regions across the country to find the best locations for certain crops.

Also, the industry will continue to study and improve the quality of fruit trees and vegetables as well as modernise technology used to preserve exported fruit and vegetable.

Industry experts will promote trade relations with foreign countries and strengthen activities to expand the market, advertise trade marks and develop traditional markets.

According to a report from the ministry, every year the country can harvest more than 7 million tonnes of fruit from a total 680,000 ha.

The country’s most productive fruit trees in recent months have been plum in Lao Cai province, oranges in Ha Giang, pomelo in Phu Tho, litchi in Bac Giang and longan in Hung Yen.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have worked to boost exports of these fruits.

Vietnamese fruit and vegetable are sold to 20 markets worldwide. Export turnover increased from 334 million USD in 2001 to 390 million USD in 2008.

The industry’s main competitors are Thailand, China and the US./.