AsemconnectVietnam - In the first 6 months of 2024, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover reached nearly 3.5 billion USD.

The key export markets recorded an increase of 10-50% over the same period of 2023. This is also the industry that holds the leading position in exports of agricultural products.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, fruit and vegetable exports in June of 2024 were estimated to reach nearly 780 million USD. In the first 6 months of 2024, fruit and vegetable exports increased by more than 28% over the same period last year. Among them, durian, dragon fruit, and banana were the products that contribute mainly to export growth in the first half of 2024. Besides, processed products and key markets also recorded an increase of 10-50% compared to the same period last year.
In only 2 months (May and June of 2024), durian products alone brought in 1.05 billion USD in export turnover for the economy.
The main markets for Vietnamese vegetables and fruits were still China and other potential markets such as South Korea, the United States, Japan, Thailand, etc. Of which, China was still the country’s largest export market for vegetables and fruits, estimated at about 2.2 billion USD (up by 33% over the same period of 2023). The second market was South Korea, estimated at 180 million USD, up by 57.9% over the same period of 2023. The next was the United States, with an export value of nearly 150 million USD, up by 32.4% over the same period of 2023. This is also a potential market for fruit and vegetable exporting countries, including Vietnam. However, to bring products into the United States, it is necessary to increase the added value of seasonal fruits by adding processed products such as dried fruit, fruit powder, and canned products, as well as applying new technology to help prolong fruit preservation time.
Assessing the export market of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that currently, Vietnam has officially exported more than a dozen types of fruits to the Chinese market including watermelon, mangosteen, durian, fresh banana, sweet potato, dragon fruit, rambutan, mango, lychee, longan, and jackfruit. Notably, Vietnam and China recently signed off on the conclusion of negotiations on the Protocol requiring plant quarantine for fresh coconut exports, opening up export prospects for Vietnamese coconuts. It is expected that this year, Vietnam and China will sign a new Protocol on the export of frozen durian, passion fruit and chili, continuing to expand the way to export agricultural products to China.
Agreeing with the above statement, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association also forecasts that fruit and vegetable export turnover this year could reach 7-7.5 billion USD, if frozen durian or fresh coconut products are added according to Vietnam's current negotiation agreements with China. With abundant supply that can meet the market's great demand, export businesses expect to be able to set a new record this year.
Promulgate standards on processing and post-harvest preservation
According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, durian exports are increasing very strongly. In May, the export turnover of this fruit reached 450 million USD, up by 107% over the previous month and up by 34% over the same month last year. In June of 2024, durian exports were estimated to reach 600 million USD. So in just 2 months, durian exports have brought in 1.05 billion USD. In the first 6 months of the year, durian export turnover reached 1.5 billion USD. Thanks to that, durian continued to lead the turnover in our country's main export fruit and vegetable group, nearly 4 times higher than dragon fruit - the fruit that once ranked top in the export fruit and vegetable group.
Although it is our country's main export fruit and vegetable product, recently some Vietnamese durian export shipments have still been warned due to contamination with banned substances. Specifically, China has issued a warning about more than 30 batches of durian contaminated with cadmium. The Plant Protection Department (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has set up a working group to inspect and take samples (including soil, water, fertilizer...) at factories and growing areas on the warning list. Currently, the Department is continuing to set up a second inspection working group and discuss with businesses, packaging facilities, and growing areas. Results are expected in July. At that time, the Department will release information and work with the Chinese side to find ways to handle this issue.
Faced with this situation, management agencies note that businesses need to increase inspection of banned substances right at gardens and packaging facilities to ensure the quality and brand of Vietnamese durian.
"The Chinese market is very open, but the quality of fruit and vegetables is not stable. There are still some shipments with pesticide residue warnings. Recently, the project to improve the effectiveness of implementing the Agreement on the application of sanitary and epidemiological measures and animal and plant quarantine (SPS) approved by the Government, opening up new tools to promote the quality of exported fruits and vegetables," Mr. Phung Duc Tien emphasized.
Speaking at the conference on the deployment of the durian industry in 2024, Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy, Vice Chairman of the Durian Association of Dak Lak province, General Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Group Joint Stock Company said, that durian remains a fruit that grows well for many years to come. In addition to the Chinese market, export businesses are expanding their markets to many countries around the world with potential such as India, Asian countries, etc. But for the durian industry to develop and export smoothly, Vietnam needs to promulgate standards on processing and post-harvest preservation so that the export business community has a basis for implementation. Currently, businesses apply the processing standards of durian importing countries to preserve, pre-process, process and export to the market they target. Therefore, Vietnam needs to synchronize this process to facilitate business operations. Regarding the issuance of growing area codes and processing facility codes, Vietnam needs to promote and negotiate with China to facilitate import, export and consumption of durian as well as other Vietnamese fruits.
CK
Source: VITIC/ haiquanonline.com.vn