In a significant development, Vietnam has outstripped Chile to claim the position of the second-largest exporter of fruits and vegetables to China in 2023, primarily attributed to a surge in durian exports.
China’s total import value for vegetables and fruits exceeded US$24.4 billion last year, with Thailand maintaining its dominance with a turnover of $8.6 billion, despite experiencing a marginal 2% decline from 2022.
Vietnam’s remarkable ascent saw its market share surge from 8% in 2022 to an impressive 14% in 2023, with a total export value of $3.4 billion, effectively surpassing Chile’s longstanding position.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, highlighted that the significant rise in durian exports and increased imports of processed fruits and vegetables from Vietnam played pivotal roles in this achievement.
Furthermore, the official exports of frozen durian, avocado, and coconut to China this year are anticipated to contribute further to this upward trend.
In addition to ample supply, Vietnam holds a competitive edge over counterparts like Thailand and Chile in terms of cost efficiency and shipping times.
During a recent visit by President Xi Jinping to Vietnam, the Chinese government announced plans to expand the market for Vietnamese agricultural products, including fresh coconut, frozen fruit products, citrus fruits, avocado, custard apple, and water apple. The visit also resulted in the signing of a protocol facilitating watermelon exports between the two nations.
Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports in 2023 amounted to $5.6 billion, marking an impressive 80% surge from the preceding year, with China continuing to be the largest market, accounting for 60% of the total export value.