Bright spot in the Chinese market
Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) cited data from General Department of Customs, saying that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports continuously hit new record highs. Specifically, in September 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports reached 917.25 million USD, up 8.7% over the previous month and up 37.6% over the same period last year. In the first 9 months of 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover reached 5.64 billion USD, an increase of 33.9% over the same period last year.
The above results were largely due to contribution of durian exports to Chinese market. In addition, there were also contributions from key fruits and vegetables such as bananas, jackfruit, mango, watermelon, lemon, passion fruit, nuts, etc.
In September 2024 compared to August 2024, export turnover of fruits and vegetables to Chinese and Canadian markets increased (accounting for 78% of total export turnover in September 2024), which had a positive impact on the whole industry. On contrary, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover to most potential markets decreased. This shows that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry is showing signs of being heavily dependent on traditional export market of China.
In general, in the first 9 months of 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover to most major markets grew positively, except for Netherlands. Thus, in the first 9 months of 2024, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry made efforts to exploit many other potential markets such as the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, etc.
Forecast to continue growing in the last months of the year
It is forecasted that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports will continue to grow in the last months of the year due to seasonal factors. In addition, Vietnam's fruit and vegetables are increasingly asserting their position in markets such as the United States, China, South Korea, etc.
In particular, Chinese consumers increasingly favor Vietnamese durian, banana, lychee, longan, jackfruit, mango and watermelon, thanks to quality and characteristic flavor of tropical fruits.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - commented that China is about to enter winter, so fruit and vegetable crops will have poor harvests. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, winter is dry season, so it is favorable for growing fruits and vegetables, resulting in high output. In addition, Vietnam has connections by road, sea and rail to the Chinese market, creating favorable conditions for businesses to save costs and transportation time.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu - Deputy Director of Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnamese fruits have great potential in Chinese market. Our strengths are the quality and characteristic flavor of tropical fruits, grown in the specific climate and soil conditions of Vietnam. Many types of fruits such as durian, mango, dragon fruit, lychee, longan, banana, etc. have long been favored by Chinese consumers.
However, we need to overcome weaknesses of uneven quality as well as unstable output to meet needs of large importers and distributors in China. We need to promote official commercial exports for sustainable development and increase export value.
According to experts, Vietnamese fruits are currently facing great competition in the export market. Typically, in Chinese market, many of Vietnam's main export fruits are being rapidly expanded in China.
After 10 years, China's dragon fruit growing area has surpassed Vietnam's. For durian, China is testing planting of 2,700 hectares on Hainan Island and seeking to be self-sufficient in supply from places with favorable climates.
China has continuously maintained its position as Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is currently China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and fifth in the world; In terms of supplying fruits and fruit products, Vietnam is China's third largest partner in the world (after Thailand and Chile) with many products that have established a solid position and are favored by Chinese consumers.
In particular, in recent years, with cooperation of functional agencies and efforts of businesses of two countries, more and more Vietnamese fruits have been officially exported to China.
To increase export turnover to Chinese market, Import-Export Department recommends that fruit and vegetable industry needs to create and bring true values of Vietnamese fruits to Chinese consumers. Product quality, unique flavors and food safety are core values that need to be focused on developing and maintaining. When Chinese consumers are aware of these values, they will become sustainable customers, creating a solid foundation for long-term development of Vietnamese fruit industry.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn