Leap in fruit and vegetable exports
Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) cited statistics from General Department of Customs, saying that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover recorded a record high, reaching about 7.12 billion USD in 2024, an increase of 27.1% compared to 2023. Thus, compared to figure of 1.84 billion USD in 2015, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry has had a "leapfrog" development in the past decade.
Regarding export market of fruit and vegetable industry, China is overwhelming leader with up to 4.3 billion USD, accounting for more than 60% of all fruit and vegetable export markets of Vietnam and an increase of 27% over the same period last year. In second place is the US market, although it has increased by 37%, it has only reached 320 million USD. Korea and Thailand are the third and fourth largest markets consuming fruits and vegetables from Vietnam, respectively.
At press conference held at end of December 2024, Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - informed that this is the first year that the fruit and vegetable industry has reached and surpassed the threshold of 7 billion USD. Along with effectively exploiting Chinese market, conversion of many ineffective rice areas, with direction of spreading production, has created a remarkable growth in output of key fruits, helping Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports achieve remarkable achievements in recent times.
Talking to reporters of Cong Thuong Newspaper, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - said that in the general "picture" of fruit and vegetable exports in 2024, there was a growth in turnover for each group of products compared to the same period last year. In particular, the most growth is in durian. In 2024, export of this product earn over 3.2 billion USD. Thanks to increase of 1 billion USD in durian exports compared to last year, total export turnover of whole industry increased by over 7 billion USD.
Fruit and vegetable exports aim for 8 billion USD in 2025
According to experts, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry is increasingly affirming its position in major markets such as the United States, EU, China, etc. From above results, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry has every reason to expect that in 2025, fruit and vegetable exports continue to record a new record high, with an expected growth rate of over 20% compared to 2024.
Forecast for the fruit and vegetable industry in 2025 is based on increasing demand for this product in the world. In addition, many types of Vietnamese fruits have affirmed their position in export markets and at the same time, some key fruit varieties are expected to be licensed for export to major markets.
According to information from Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), it is expected that in 2025, Vietnamese passion fruit will be officially licensed for export to the US market. In addition, passion fruit is also the 5th fresh fruit from Vietnam to be officially exported to Australia.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen commented that in 2024, with items such as passion fruit, grapefruit, fresh coconut, frozen durian, these are new items opening in some markets, businesses are still struggling with the issue of applying for growing area codes, packaging facility codes and establishing relationships with foreign partners. In other words, businesses are currently in preparation process. Some items such as grapefruit and coconut have exported the first shipments but not much. In 2025, these items will be able to promote their advantages. It is forecasted that in 2025, fruit and vegetable exports will earn 8 billion USD.
However, fruit and vegetable exports are also facing many difficulties as countries increase inspections of imported goods. For example, recently, Vietnam SPS Office (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) sent a notice to Plant Protection Department and the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association regarding the amendment of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on temporarily strengthening official controls and emergency measures to manage import of certain goods from some third countries into the EU.
Accordingly, for Vietnamese durian, EU temporarily increased frequency of border inspections from 10% to 20%. For dragon fruit, chili and okra, EU kept same frequency of border inspections. Of which, inspection frequency of dragon fruit is 30%, chili and okra are 50%. These three products, when imported into the EU market, must be accompanied by results of pesticide residue analysis.
To stabilize product output and ensure quality standards, Import-Export Department recommends that Vietnamese fruit and vegetable enterprises should promote processing, focusing on deep processing, both increasing added value and limiting seasonal risks such as fresh exports.
"Currently, output of processed fresh fruits and vegetables is still low while annual harvest is very large. This is considered one of main reasons why Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover still accounts for a low proportion in markets and market areas with high demand for processed products such as Europe, the United States, Korea...", Import-Export Department emphasized.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn