Exports last year had topped $3.16 billion.
The export of durian has seen the strongest growth this year, topping $503 million in the first five months compared to a mere $27.6 million in the same period last year.
China, South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands are Việt Nam’s top four buyers of fruits and vegetables, with China accounting for nearly 63.5 percent.
Vietnamese produce is improving rapidly in quality and price competitiveness, making it popular globally, experts said.
Vietnam’s vegetable, fruit exports flourish in second quarter
After many market fluctuations in the first quarter of 2023, Vietnam’s exports of vegetables and fruits saw positive moves in the second quarter.
According to statistics of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover reached more than 1 billion USD in June 2023, raising the figure in the first half of this year to 2.75 billion USD, more than 63% higher than that of the same period last year.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), said that the export revenue in June set a record so far thanks to China’s opening to many Vietnamese fruits such as durian and grapefruit.
China led the top five importers of Vietnam's vegetables and fruits with exports to the country accounting for more than 63% of Vietnam's total export value.
Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to the US decreased by 12% over the same period in 2022 but other major importers - the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands - saw increases of 12%, 0.5%, and 70%, respectively.
Producers advised to improve quality of products to fully tap Chinese market
China spent 805 million USD on importing vegetables and fruits from Vietnam in the first four months of 2023, up 29% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit).The association reported that China led the top five importers of Vietnam's vegetables and fruits with exports to the country accounting for 59% of Vietnam’s total export volume.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of Vinafruit, said that Vietnam’s export revenue in June set a record so far thanks to China’s opening to many Vietnamese fruits such as durian and grapefruit.
Nguyen forecast that the export of vegetables and fruits in the next months, especially to the Chinese market, will continue to grow as Vietnam has entered the fruit harvesting season.
Durian exports surge 18 times in May
Durian exports reached a record high of 332 million USD in May, which was more than 10 times higher than the previous month.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the first five months of this year, Vietnam exported over 65,000 tons of durians, up 41% year-on-year.
The surge in durian exports in May was the major contributor to the overall growth of the fruit-vegetable export group.
It is forecasted that durians will continue to perform well, with a possible turnover of over one billion USD in 2023.
To capitalize on this market opportunity, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to increase the granting of growing area codes and packaging facilities to further facilitate the export of durians and other fruits and vegetables.
Orders from China boom, veggie and fruit exports to set new records
A boom in orders from China has occurred, and new export markets have opened. Veggie and fruit export turnover of $4.5-5 billion this year is within reach.
In Dong Nai, the biggest durian growing area, six enterprises have exported 360 tons of Dona and Ri6 durian to China under a protocol signed between the Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and China’s General Administration of Customs.
It is expected that in 2023, Dong Nai will export 20,000 tons of durian worth $50 million. Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group, said China is collecting a wide range of Vietnam’s fruits, especially durian. His company has signed a contract on exporting 1,500 containers (15 tons per container) of durian to China. To date, 30 percent of the contracts have been delivered.
“We can’t collect enough products to deliver to the partners at this moment,” he said.
Besides China, veggie and fruit exports to other markets, including the US, Australia and EU, all have seen 5-10 percent growth rates in comparison with the same period last year.
Ngo Tuong Vy, general director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export, said Thailand is also harvesting durian, but Vietnam’s exports to China remain unaffected because demand from China is very high.
While the durian season is ending in the southwest region, the durian season is beginning in the southeast and after that, in the provinces in the Central Highlands. This is a great advantage of Vietnam as it can provide durian year round.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Khac Tien, chair of Ameii Vietnam, said the company is busy fulfilling contracts on exporting lychees to Japan, Germany, the UK and Middle East. The lychee exports to Japan are expected to increase by 30-50 percent this year.
Vietnam’s lychee is also seeking new markets. Seedless lychees are selling at VND800,000 per kilogram at supermarkets in the UK.
The 1.4 billion consumer market of China remains the largest market for Vietnam. It not only consumes a huge volume of durian, but also imports other fruits.
T.Huong
Source: Vitic/VNA