Vietnam’s fruit, vegetable exports likely to set new record in 2024

Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports are projected to reach 6.6 billion USD by the end of November, fulfilling the annual target of 6-6.6 billion USD, one month ahead of schedule.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), exports in the first 11 months recorded substantial growth across various markets, with double-digit increases. The most significant growth was seen in exports to Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Canada, China, and the US.

Vinafruit General Secretary Dang Phuc Nguyen stated that based on the obtained results, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports could reach a record of 7 billion USD or even 7.2 billion USD by the year-end, the highest figure so far.

China remains Vietnam's largest fruit importer, accounting for an estimated 4.6 billion USD or nearly 70% of Vietnam's total fruit export value. Nguyen emphasised China’s vast potential, with its 1.4 billion population and status as the world’s second-largest economy.

Vietnam enjoys logistical advantages when exporting to China. The proximity of Vietnamese border checkpoints to Chinese wholesale markets significantly reduces transport time and costs. Additionally, the closeness of seaports in both countries enhances the competitiveness of Vietnamese fruits. Trade agreements between the two nations further create favourable conditions for Vietnamese fruits to deepen its penetration into the Chinese market.

However, Vietnam faces stiff competition from other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Australia, and South American nations like Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. To stay competitive, Vietnamese farmers and exporters must meet stringent requirements, including certified planting area codes and registered processing and packaging facilities, as mandated by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC).

Although the US is not among Vietnam’s top fruit importers, it offers significant advantages due to the lack of domestic production of many tropical fruits.

Alexis M. Taylor, US Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), encouraged Vietnamese businesses to establish presence in the US market to better understand consumer preferences. She highlighted the potential for complementary trade, given that many Vietnamese fruits are unavailable in the US. Taylor suggested focusing on regions or communities with large Vietnamese-American populations as entry points into the market.

Currently, eight types of Vietnamese fresh fruits are exported to the US, including dragon fruit, mango, longan, lychee, rambutan, star apple, pomelo, and coconut. In August 2024, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reached an agreement with the USDA to introduce passion fruit to the US market.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung described the US as a vital market for Vietnam’s high-quality tropical agricultural products. He expressed his optimism that passion fruit would soon be available to US consumers./.