Fruit and vegetable exports from Vietnam are expected to maintain their smooth trajectory due to ample domestic supply and increasing demand from foreign markets. The first half of 2024 saw these exports generate US$3.4 billion, marking a 28 percent increase year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Major contributors to this growth, as identified by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), include durian, dragon fruit, banana, and longan, with shipments to key markets witnessing a 10-50 percent rise from the previous year.
China, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have been significant importers, with purchases from Vietnam climbing 30 – 60 percent year-on-year by the end of May. Notably, China's imports of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables reached about $1.7 billion in five months, a 33 percent increase. VINAFRUIT predicts a continued uptrend in exports, supported by abundant domestic supply and growing demand in both traditional and potential markets. The association highlighted that the main harvest season for durian, dragon fruit, pineapple, watermelon, mango, and longan is set to boost sales further, especially to China, Vietnam's largest market currently.
Efforts to enhance fruit quality are underway, with Bình Thuận province implementing a programme to follow the Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) for dragon fruit production, aiming to extend the area under these standards to 10,500ha by the end of 2024. Tiền Giang province is also advancing intensive dragon fruit farming for export.
Source: vietnamnews.vn