In the initial eight months of the year, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports approached nearly US$4.6 billion, marking a 29 per cent increase from the previous year. Thailand is anticipated to maintain its impressive growth in imports of these products.
Based on customs data, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association reported that Thailand showed the most substantial increase in imports of Vietnamese agricultural products in the first seven months. Moving up from sixth to fourth place, Thailand's imports reached a value of $123 million, showing a 70 per cent increase year-on-year.
Chánh Thu Company's CEO, Ngô Tường Vy, noted a surge in Thailand's orders for Vietnamese longans, lychees, and durians in the first half of the year, especially frozen durians, which significantly boosted export volumes. Đặng Phúc Nguyên, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, mentioned that unlike Thailand, Vietnamese durians are available all year round, giving Vietnam an edge, especially as El Nino-induced droughts have reduced Thailand's durian yield and size this year.
Consequently, Thailand has upped its durian imports from Vietnam, with some being re-exported to China. Additionally, large Thai retail corporations have doubled their import volume of dragon fruit, longans, and lychees from Vietnam compared to last year, significantly contributing to the growth in exports to Thailand.
China remains the top importer of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, with nearly $2.5 billion worth of imports in the first seven months, a 25 per cent increase year-on-year. The US and South Korea follow, with exports to these countries also seeing substantial increases.
Nguyên emphasized the importance of Vietnamese producers and exporters staying informed about import regulations in various markets to comply with technical barriers that come with free trade agreements.
Source: freshplaza.com