7-month fruit, vegetables exports surpass 2022 total

By Thi Ha July 22, 2023 | 08:56 pm PT

A farmer examines durians in the Mekong Delta province of Long An. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam

Exports of fruits and vegetables in the first seven months rose 69% year-on-year to $3.25 billion and surpassed last year’s total of $3.16 billion.

The surge came as demand from China jumped, especially for fresh durian, thanks to a protocol signed between the two countries in September last year, according to the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association (Vinafruit).

China bought $1.76 billion worth of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in the first six months this year, up 122% year-on-year.

This country alone accounted for nearly 66% of Vietnam’s total fruits and vegetables exports.

Vietnam imported $312 million worth of the same category from China, down 1% year-on-year.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of Vinafruit, said that Vietnam has achieved a new record in fruits and vegetables exports this year.

Durian, mango, dragon fruit and banana were the main contributors to growth, and durian alone could reach a new record of $1 billion exports this year, he added.

Industry insiders have said that Vietnam’s long durian harvest time, from February to June in the Mekong Delta and from June to October in the central highlands, make Vietnamese durian more competitive in prices than that of Thailand and the Philippines.

Nguyen said that fruits and vegetables exports could reach $4 billion this year, a 26.5% increase from last year.