Export of vegetables and fruits in the first half of 2025 only reached 3.05 billion USD
According to the report of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the export value of vegetables and fruits in June 2025 is estimated at 750 million USD, bringing the total export value of vegetables and fruits in the first 6 months of 2025 to 3.05 billion USD, down 8.4% compared to the same period in 2024. Vietnamese vegetables and fruits are mainly exported to Chinese market with the export value accounting for 48.2%. The next two largest export markets for vegetables and fruits are the United States and South Korea with export value proportions of 9% and 5.7%, respectively.
Compared to the same period last year, export value of fruits and vegetables in the first 5 months of 2025 to Chinese market decreased by 35.1%, the US market increased by 65.2%, and Korean market decreased by 5.3%. In the group of 15 largest export markets, the export value of fruits and vegetables increased the most in Hong Kong market with an increase of 69.2% and decreased the most in Chinese market with a decrease of 35.1%. In 2025, the fruit and vegetable industry will achieve an export target of 7.6 billion USD, an increase of 6.8% compared to 2024. To achieve this figure, in the last 6 months of the year, the export turnover of fruits and vegetables must reach 4.55 billion USD. This is quite a pressured number because Vietnam's main export market - China - has reduced imports of strategic Vietnamese products such as durian, dragon fruit, banana and jackfruit.
Talking to reporters of Industry and Trade Newspaper about this issue, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association Dang Phuc Nguyen said that although other export markets have grown normally, however, because export turnover to these markets is not as large as China, when China reduces the export of some strategic products, it will affect the overall turnover. Therefore, the expected export turnover of fruits and vegetables for the whole year is about 5.5-6 billion USD.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen analyzed that, according to data from Customs Department (Ministry of Finance), by the end of May 2025, Vietnam's durian exports only reached 387 million USD, of which, Chinese market alone only reached 278 million USD, down 67%. Durian export turnover of Chinese market has decreased too deeply, causing total export turnover of the entire fruit and vegetable industry from the beginning of the year to now to decrease.
“Last year, we exported 3.2 billion USD worth of durian. If we calculate rate of durian export turnover decreasing by about 60%, this year, durian export turnover is expected to decrease by about 1.8 billion USD,” said Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen.
Commenting on export turnover of fruits and vegetables in general, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien shared that according to estimated export data in June 2025, export turnover of fruits and vegetables may decrease more than the set target, estimated to only reach about 6.6 billion USD, down 7.3% compared to the same period in 2024.
Synchronizing implementation solutions
Fruit and vegetable export market contains many unfavorable factors. To achieve the set target, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has developed a plan as well as set out specific tasks for each item, including fruits and vegetables.
Accordingly, for the US market, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that in recent times, Vietnamese enterprises have proactively adapted and met requirements of this market. In addition, consumers in the US are tending to invest more in their health when using fresh and unique fruits and vegetables to serve a healthy diet. This is an opportunity for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry.
In the last 6 months of the year, enterprises need to accelerate exports to the US market, focusing on specialty fruit products that are Vietnam's export strengths such as fresh coconut, mango, grapefruit, passion fruit, etc. At the same time, promote exports of additional processed products, especially products processed from coconut and mango, which are having good growth advantages.
In addition, fruit and vegetable industry needs to maintain and promote exports to major markets, prioritizing markets with which Vietnam has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as Japan, Korea, the EU, and China to minimize risks and increase sustainable export value.
"With China - Vietnam's largest fruit and vegetable export market, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment assessed that China has reduced tariffs on more than 8,000 imported goods from Vietnam (including fresh fruits) within the framework of the ASEAN - China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), opening up many opportunities for businesses to access this large market; in which, fresh coconut products have good growth prospects in the Chinese market," Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said.
On side of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, it will focus on implementing solutions to remove obstacles and promote durian exports to the Chinese market. Improve the level of compliance with the importing country's regulations on plant quarantine and food safety to maintain the market, especially high-value items that are being tightly controlled by the import market.
Grasp information, monitor customs clearance, import and export of agricultural products through the Northern border gate area to promptly handle problems arising during the main harvest season of agricultural products and the Lunar New Year.
At the same time, strengthen trade promotion, increase export of fruit products that have been officially exported and have advantage of increasing market share such as fresh coconut, dragon fruit, jackfruit, banana, watermelon, mango, longan, mangosteen, lychee, rambutan, passion fruit, durian; ...
Regarding durian, Mr. Do Hong Khanh, Chief of Office of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), said that in the first half of the year, Vietnam exported 5,217 batches of fresh durian with an output of nearly 130,000 tonnes, a significant decrease compared to the same period last year. However, frozen durian exports increased 3 times with 388 batches, equivalent to an output of 14,282 tonnes.
Potential for frozen durian exports is seen as continuing to be a bright spot in the coming time thanks to its stability and long-term preservation ability. Currently, many businesses are ready to invest in modern processing lines and cold storage, meeting standards of China and potential markets such as Korea, Japan, EU...
With Chinese market approving nearly 1,000 more codes for growing areas and packaging facilities, along with positive signals from a number of import markets, the Plant Protection Department forecasts that fresh durian exports are likely to recover from the third quarter of 2025, especially during the main crop season from August to October.
"However, the recovery level still depends largely on whether businesses and farmers can maintain food safety conditions as committed. If violations continue to recur, the export risk for this industry is still very high," Mr. Khanh emphasized.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn