HANOI: Data by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association shows that fruits and vegetables export turnover in the first nine months of this year hit US$1.3 billion, an increase of 116 percent over the same period last year, with trade surplus of about $882 million.
Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have entered 40 countries and territories around the world. Of which, ten major importers included China, Japan, South Korea, the US, Malaysia, and Thailand. China remains the biggest importer with fruits and vegetables imports accounting for up to 64.2 percent of Vietnam’s total fruits and vegetables export turnover.
Vietnam mainly exports mangos, dragon fruits, bananas, and rambutans to China. Japan and South Korea are second and third largest fruits and vegetables importers of Vietnam respectively.
During the past few months, the area of fruits and vegetables produced under VietGap standards has increased, helping to promote export of fruits and vegetables to demanding markets, such as: the US, Australia, Japan, and countries in the EU.
Therefore, although the Ministry of Industry and Trade discreetly set fruits and vegetables export target at $1.65 billion this year, many experts believe that fruits and vegetables exports will possibly hit $2 billion this year. Last year, Vietnam fetched $1.5 billion from exporting fruits and vegetables.