Processed vegetable, fruit exports increase 19%

Processed products accounted for 21% of Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports in the period and are well-liked in the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), which represents the country’s vegetable and fruit farmers, processors and traders.

Sales of several products made from mango, passion fruit, almond and pistachio saw 22-60% year-on-year growth in 2023.

Canned fruits and bottled juice were also popular products, especially in Japanese, American and European markets.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of VINAFRUIT, said exports of these products rose sharply because large markets had been importing more of them from Vietnam in recent years.

In the last three years, exports of processed vegetables and fruits jumped 30-45% per year, according to the United States International Trade Commission.

Similarly, exports of processed products to Europe have risen 10-20% annually for the past three years, he said.

Recently, China has also allowed Vietnam to export processed and frozen fruits in addition to fresh ones, further boosting processed vegetable and fruit exports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that only 4.5 million tons, or 14%, of the country’s annual fruit production were processed.

Vegetable and fruit processing plants are being gradually upgraded but their scale is still small, so the supply is not enough to fully capitalize on the strong global demand for these products.