Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam can earn 7.5 billion USD from vegetable and fruit exports this year – the highest-ever figure recorded, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit).
Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development show that the export revenue of these products hit 6.34 billion USD in the first ten months of this year, up 31.5% year on year and exceeding the 5.7 billion USD recorded for the entire 2023.
Durian continues to be the largest contributor, bringing in over 3 billion USD in the reviewed period, accounting for nearly 50% of the total export turnover from vegetables and fruits. Other products such as banana, mango, dragon fruit, and processed products also play an important role.
China remains the largest buyer of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits, with imports reaching 3.8 billion USD in the first 9 months of this year, up 38% year-on-year. Markets such as Thailand, the US, the Republic of Korea, and Japan have also seen strong growth, with double-digit increases.
Vinafruit General Secretary Dang Phuc Nguyen said that durian has made surprising success in terms of export results. Although the main season in the Central Highlands region ended in October, Vietnam still has off-season fruits thanks to the effective cultivation techniques of farmers.
Durian export turnover is likely to hit 3.5 billion USD this year - a milestone that is rare for any fruit to achieve.
While the export value of fresh coconut is not as high as that of durian, the recent approval for coconut exports to China has led to positive signs, with businesses signing cooperation agreements to boost exports of this product.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Coconut Association Cao Ba Dang Khoa stated that the demand for fresh coconut in the Chinese market can be divided into five segments, which means that small- and medium-sized enterprises can also access this market, unlike those such as the US and the EU, where businesses are required to be strong in terms of resources, market access capacity, and logistics to ensure product quality.
As Thailand currently holds 60% of the coconut market share in China, he expressed his hope that with the cooperation agreements reached by enterprises, along with efforts to improve domestic production orchards, this fruit will soon secure a significant share of this market./.
