According to the general Department of Customs, Vietnam imported fruits and vegetables worth USD31 million in the first two weeks of March, up USD7 million and USD15 million compared to the same period of last year and 2015 respectively. The figure put fruit and vegetables top among Vietnam’s imported goods this month.

Last year, up to 45 percent of Vietnam’s imported vegetables and fruits were from Thailand, while 25 percent was from China, with the remainder from other countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

Vietnam started imported vegetables and fruits in 2010, mainly from China at that time. Since the Asean Economic Community was established at the end of 2015, more Thai vegetables and fruits have been imported into Vietnam thanks to zero tariffs. Free trade agreements between Vietnam and South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have also opened the way for products into the country from these countries.

Thai vegetables and fruit entered the local market via hypermarkets and modern retail shops after Thai retail groups bought supermarket giants Big C and Metro in 2015 and 2016.

Vu Vinh Phu, Chair of the Hanoi Supermarket Association, said Vietnam should only import vegetables and fruits that it did not produce locally, such as cherries, instead of importing those which are also grown in the country like longan, mango, durian and dragon fruit to help protect domestic products.