Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to the EU: Positive growth driven by EVFTA
Wednesday, October 1,2025
AsemconnectVietnam - Although Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports declined in early 2025, shipments to the EU recorded strong growth. From January–April 2025, exports to the EU reached USD132 million, up 33% year-on-year, contrasting with the overall sector decline.
In the first half of 2025, exports to the EVFTA markets totaled USD229.44 million, accounting for 7.38% of Vietnam’s global fruit and vegetable exports, compared with 4.86% in the same period of 2024.
Structure of Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports to the EU in the First 6 Months of 2025 (% by export value)
|
Category
|
June 2025
|
First 6 Months of 2025
|
Share
|
||||
|
Value (USD million)
|
Compared to May 2025 (%)
|
Compared to June 2024 (%)
|
Value (USD million)
|
Compared to First 6 Months of 2024 (%)
|
2025 (%)
|
2024 (%)
|
|
|
Fruits and nuts
|
19.96
|
-17.24
|
38.03
|
112.96
|
45.03
|
49.23
|
48.08
|
|
Lemons
|
5.64
|
-24.79
|
87.04
|
33.76
|
45.66
|
14.71
|
14.31
|
|
Bananas
|
0.12
|
347.58
|
425.06
|
0.35
|
-39.93
|
0.15
|
0.36
|
|
Coconuts
|
1.95
|
-8.99
|
51.64
|
8.52
|
64.07
|
3.71
|
3.20
|
|
Durian
|
0.04
|
-53.53
|
-45.36
|
0.52
|
-22.23
|
0.23
|
0.41
|
|
Dragon fruit
|
0.86
|
-54.58
|
3.79
|
7.58
|
7.53
|
3.30
|
4.35
|
|
Mangoes
|
4.44
|
-16.46
|
-12.47
|
31.62
|
36.44
|
13.78
|
14.31
|
|
Others
|
6.90
|
-3.39
|
66.12
|
30.60
|
69.69
|
13.34
|
11.13
|
|
Processed fruits and vegetables
|
25.49
|
-7.57
|
78.42
|
106.65
|
44.39
|
46.48
|
45.60
|
|
Canned fruits and vegetables
|
1.70
|
-0.26
|
58.98
|
11.68
|
91.88
|
5.09
|
3.76
|
|
Canned coconut water
|
0.76
|
79.77
|
81.30
|
2.60
|
-9.57
|
1.13
|
1.78
|
|
Juices
|
12.64
|
-0.06
|
91.48
|
39.15
|
23.84
|
17.06
|
19.52
|
|
Dried fruits and vegetables
|
1.29
|
1.99
|
45.45
|
6.88
|
30.59
|
3.00
|
3.25
|
|
Others
|
9.10
|
-21.13
|
71.38
|
46.35
|
65.39
|
20.20
|
17.30
|
|
Vegetables
|
1.35
|
15.21
|
-10.09
|
7.90
|
7.07
|
3.44
|
4.56
|
|
Corn
|
0.56
|
5.84
|
35.02
|
3.24
|
51.52
|
1.41
|
1.32
|
|
Beans
|
0.06
|
-25.94
|
-15.71
|
0.35
|
-19.57
|
0.15
|
0.27
|
|
Sweet potatoes
|
0.12
|
65.54
|
22.89
|
0.58
|
0.70
|
0.25
|
0.36
|
|
Chili peppers
|
0.06
|
86.22
|
-39.76
|
0.28
|
-52.32
|
0.12
|
0.37
|
|
Others
|
0.56
|
20.56
|
-32.46
|
3.44
|
-0.10
|
1.50
|
2.12
|
|
Other categories
|
0.61
|
-56.80
|
77.15
|
5.88
|
73.68
|
2.56
|
2.09
|
|
Total
|
47.56
|
-12.64
|
56.23
|
229.44
|
41.64
|
100
|
100
|
Source: Calculations based on data from Vietnam Customs
Key markets
The Netherlands remains the leading hub, making up about 35% of Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to the EVFTA. Other major markets include Germany, France, Poland, and Spain, all showing stable or strong growth.Smaller markets such as Spain (+131%), Italy (+230%), and Sweden (+211%) posted triple-digit growth, reflecting diversification efforts and improved product quality and traceability.
Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Export Markets to EVFTA Members in the First 6 Months of 2025
|
Market
|
June 2025
|
First 6 Months of 2025
|
Share
|
||||
|
Value (USD million)
|
Compared to May 2025 (%)
|
Compared to June 2024 (%)
|
Value (USD million)
|
Compared to First 6 Months of 2024 (%)
|
2025 (%)
|
2024 (%)
|
|
|
Total
|
47.56
|
-12.64
|
56.23
|
229.44
|
41.64
|
100
|
100
|
|
Netherlands
|
20.84
|
-6.63
|
83.30
|
79.73
|
33.12
|
34.75
|
36.97
|
|
Germany
|
4.76
|
-50.47
|
-15.91
|
39.79
|
23.50
|
17.34
|
19.89
|
|
France
|
5.22
|
13.25
|
67.01
|
29.29
|
29.18
|
12.77
|
14.00
|
|
Poland
|
3.70
|
31.33
|
41.49
|
20.02
|
62.60
|
8.73
|
7.60
|
|
Spain
|
4.29
|
24.70
|
174.21
|
15.86
|
131.13
|
6.91
|
4.24
|
|
Italy
|
3.18
|
-34.63
|
104.05
|
13.98
|
230.26
|
6.09
|
2.61
|
|
Belgium
|
1.20
|
-16.72
|
-18.61
|
8.38
|
15.30
|
3.65
|
4.49
|
|
Lithuania
|
0.77
|
-45.26
|
38.59
|
6.69
|
7.95
|
2.91
|
3.82
|
|
Romania
|
0.84
|
-22.96
|
22.55
|
5.64
|
61.23
|
2.46
|
2.16
|
|
Sweden
|
1.14
|
16.24
|
207.19
|
4.74
|
211.37
|
2.06
|
0.94
|
|
Czech Rep.
|
0.32
|
55.65
|
41.59
|
2.18
|
63.07
|
0.95
|
0.82
|
|
Greece
|
0.20
|
211.29
|
91.68
|
1.48
|
257.23
|
0.64
|
0.26
|
|
Estonia
|
0.11
|
-70.54
|
6.88
|
1.44
|
271.44
|
0.63
|
0.24
|
|
Portugal
|
0.09
|
-65.70
|
-83.17
|
1.26
|
-12.25
|
0.55
|
0.89
|
|
Denmark
|
0.19
|
31.14
|
-3.84
|
0.95
|
126.44
|
0.41
|
0.26
|
|
Latvia
|
0.07
|
-69.04
|
-58.68
|
0.58
|
10.83
|
0.25
|
0.32
|
|
Bulgaria
|
0.41
|
311.70
|
0.57
|
138.76
|
0.25
|
0.15
|
|
|
Finland
|
0.11
|
-41.80
|
38.12
|
0.48
|
117.69
|
0.21
|
0.14
|
|
Cyprus
|
0.04
|
-75.03
|
141.07
|
0.37
|
545.58
|
0.16
|
0.04
|
|
Slovenia
|
0.06
|
2.48
|
0.30
|
214.94
|
0.13
|
0.06
|
|
|
Ireland
|
0.14
|
189.59
|
0.06
|
0.03
|
|||
|
Malta
|
0.12
|
638.30
|
0.05
|
0.01
|
|||
|
Austria
|
0.09
|
562.20
|
0.04
|
0.01
|
|||
|
Hungary
|
0.02
|
267.96
|
53.75
|
0.09
|
9.58
|
0.04
|
0.05
|
Source: Calculations based on data from Vietnam Customs
Export structure
Fresh fruits and nuts: USD112.96 million in H1/2025, up 45%, accounting for 49% of EVFTA exports. Main products include mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, coconut, and passion fruit. Processed fruits and vegetables: USD106.65 million, up 44%, making up 46% of exports. This segment is highly valued in the EU for food safety and environmental standards.Fresh vegetables remain modest at USD7.9 million (3.44% share), with declining proportion due to perishability, strict logistics requirements, and technical barriers.
Challenges and opportunities
Exports to Germany showed signs of short-term slowdown in June 2025 (down 50% from May), though cumulative H1 still grew by 23.5%. Vietnam faces stiff competition from other suppliers (Thailand, Philippines, Peru) and must improve cold chain logistics and certification (GlobalGAP, EU Organic). Nevertheless, EU’s strong demand for tropical fruits and processed products creates significant opportunities.
Impact of EVFTA
· 2020–2025 export performance shows a clear transition:
o 2020–2021: Covid-19 disrupted supply chains, exports dropped to ~USD75–73 million.
o 2022: Recovery to USD81.9 million (+12%).
o 2023: Breakthrough year at USD119.35 million (+46%).
o 2024: Slower growth at USD125.2 million (+5%).
o 2025 (H1): Strong rebound to USD169.48 million (+42%), the highest level to date.
· The EVFTA is acting as a strategic lever, helping Vietnamese fruits and vegetables gain market share in Europe through tariff advantages and improved standards compliance.
Conclusion
Despite overall sector decline, fruit and vegetable exports to the EU under EVFTA surged strongly in early 2025. The Netherlands leads as a distribution hub, while several smaller EU markets show explosive growth. Processed products and high-value tropical fruits are driving exports, while fresh vegetables face structural challenges.The EVFTA has proven to be a catalyst, enabling Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to enhance their competitiveness and gradually strengthen their position in the European market.
T.Huong
T.Huong
Source: Vitic
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