Vietnam anticipates a steady expansion in its fruit and vegetable exports, buoyed by robust domestic supply and escalating international demand. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), exports in the first half of 2024 soared to US$3.4 billion, marking a substantial 28 percent year-on-year increase. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT) identifies durian, dragon fruit, banana, and longan as pivotal contributors to this growth, with shipments to key markets surging between 10 to 50 percent compared to the previous year.
Key importers such as China, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have significantly boosted their purchases from Vietnam, with import figures climbing by 30 to 60 percent by the end of May. Notably, China alone imported Vietnamese fruits and vegetables worth approximately $1.7 billion in the first five months, reflecting a robust 33 percent increase.
Looking ahead, VINAFRUIT anticipates sustained growth in exports driven by ample domestic supply and increasing demand across established and emerging markets. The association underscores that the upcoming main harvest season for durian, dragon fruit, pineapple, watermelon, mango, and longan is poised to further elevate sales, particularly in China, currently Vietnam’s largest market.
Vietnam is actively enhancing fruit quality standards, with initiatives like the Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) gaining traction. Bình Thuận province aims to expand VietGAP-compliant dragon fruit production to 10,500 hectares by the end of 2024, while Tiền Giang province is ramping up intensive farming techniques for dragon fruit aimed at the export market.