Fruit, vegetable exports expected to hit record in 2024

The country earned $3.83 billion from exporting fruit and vegetables in the first seven months of 2024, up 24.3% compared to the same period last year.

According to General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association Dang Phuc Nguyen, the exports of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables to the RoK and Japan is on the rise. In addition to building a brand and position in the traditional Chinese market, the fruit and vegetable sector is increasingly expanding in the Northeast Asian region.

China was the biggest importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables in Northeast Asia, accounting for 64% of the total export turnover, up 22% compared to the same period last year. It was followed by the RoK, up 55% year-on-year.

In the future, Northeast Asia will be a strategic market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, Nguyen said, adding that export companies will not only benefit from tariff advantages but also reduce transportation and logistics costs compared to other markets such as the EU and the US.

According to the Plant Protection Department (PPD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, Vietnam is allowed to export the largest number of fruit products to China, with 12 official products. China has also approved the temporary and pilot import of Vietnamese passion fruits and coconuts, respectively.

The PPD is working on opening the market for citrus fruits, medicinal plants, and frozen durian to China. Additionally, Vietnam is also negotiating for exporting passion fruit, longan, and lychee to Australia; and passion fruit and grapefruit to New Zealand.

Vietnamese producers and exporting companies must pay attention to continuously updating import regulations in various markets to ensure timely compliance, Nguyen said.

According to Deputy Director of the PPD Nguyen Quang Hieu, the area of durian with newly-granted farming area codes is about 25,000 hectares among 150,000 hectares nationwide. Vietnam is focusing on not only expanding cultivation areas with farming area codes, but also controlling and managing the quality of products.

A protocol on the official export of frozen durian to China is being promoted, and is expected to be signed in 2024, he said.