AsemconnectVietnam - In September of 2026, fruit and vegetable exports experienced a slowdown, primarily driven by a sharp decline in shipments to the Chinese market, most notably as the peak harvest season for durian came to an end.

Conversely, the imports continued to show strong growth. Nevertheless, in the first nine months of 2026 as a whole, both the export and import values for fruits and vegetables maintained impressive positive growth compared to the same period of 2025.
Regarding exports, fruit and vegetable exports saw an unexpectedly sharp deceleration in September of 2026 compared to both August of 2026 and the same period of 2025. According to the statistics figures from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the value of fruit and vegetable exports in September of 2026 reached $1.12 billion, a decrease of 17.8% from August of 2026 and 14.1% from the same period of 2025. This decline was largely due to a significant drop in exports to the Chinese market, particularly as the peak harvest period for durian concluded. However, for the first nine months of 2026, the total export value of fruits and vegetables reached $7.27 billion, an increase of 18.8% compared to the same period of 2025.
In September of 2026, China remained the largest market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, with an export value of $845.6 million, a decline of 20.3% from the previous month and 20.7% from the same period of 2025. Cumulatively, in the first nine months of 2026, the exports to this market reached $4.7 billion, up by 22.3% year-on-year, accounting for 64.8% of the country's total fruit and vegetable export value.
The United States was the second-largest market, with an export value of $57.1 million in September of 2026, down by 14.5% from the previous month but up by 31.2% compared to the same period of 2025. The cumulative total reached $484.7 million, an increase of 19.2%, representing 6.7% of the total export value.
South Korea ranked third, with an export value of $30.6 million, a decrease of 3.0% from the previous month but an increase of 23.5% compared to September of 2025. The cumulative total reached $263.5 million, up by 11.2%, accounting for 3.6% of the country's total fruit and vegetable export value. Regarding the EU market, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached $30.8 million in September of 2026, a 4.5% decrease from the previous month, yet a 9.1% increase compared to the same period of 2025. In the first nine months of the year, the exports to the EU totaled $310.6 million, an increase of 25.8% over the same period of 2025, accounting for 4.3% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable export value.
Within the EU, the Netherlands remained the largest importer of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, with a nine-month cumulative value of $170.8 million, up by 38.5% from the same period last year and representing 55.0% of total exports to the EU. It was followed by Germany, with $86.2 million (a 41% increase, accounting for 27.8% of the total), and France, which accounted for 14.3% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports to the EU.
As for imports, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the country’s fruit and vegetable imports in September of 2026 were estimated at $297 million, an increase of 10.0% from the previous month and a 29.1% rise compared to the same period last year. In the first nine months of 2026, the total value of fruit and vegetable imports reached an estimated $2.4 billion, an increase of 26.8% compared to the same period of 2025.
China remained the largest supplier of fruits and vegetables to Vietnam in September of 2026, with an import value of $146.1 million, up by 7.2% from the previous month and 54.5% from the same period of 2025. In the first nine months of 2026, the imports from China totaled $1 billion, a 51.5% increase year-on-year, accounting for 41.9% of the country's total fruit and vegetable import value.
The United States was the second-largest supplier, with an import value of $70.7 million in September of 2026, an increase of 48.9% from the previous month and 158.9% from the same period last year. The nine-month total reached $572.3 million, up by 38.3% and representing 23.7% of the total import value.
Australia ranked third, with an import value of $15.2 million, a decrease of 13.8% from the previous month and 21.6% from September of 2025. The nine-month total reached $152.0 million, an increase of 23.2%, accounting for 6.3% of the country's total fruit and vegetable import value.
Source: VITIC