Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports Set to Break Records with $7 Billion Target for 2024

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in the first half of 2024 have reached nearly $3.5 billion, an increase of more than 28% compared to the same period last year. Key commodities like durian, dragon fruit, and bananas drive this strong growth. Major markets like China, South Korea, the United States, Japan, and Thailand particularly support this high demand.

Chinese Market

Fruit and vegetable exports to China reached $2.2 billion in the first six months, up 33% compared to the same period in 2023. Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, mangosteen, durian, and fresh bananas, continue to find their main market in China. In 2024, Vietnam and China anticipate signing new protocols on the export of frozen durian, passion fruit, and chili. However, warnings about pesticide residue in some shipments necessitate stricter quality control measures.

South Korean and US markets

Fruit and vegetable exports to South Korea reached $180 million, up 57.9% compared to the same period in 2023. The U.S. market also recorded an impressive increase, with nearly $150 million, up 32.4%. To penetrate deeper into the U.S. market, Vietnam needs to increase the added value of fruit products through deep processing, such as producing dried fruits, fruit powders, and canned products.

Durian Sector

Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports, led by durian, reached approximately $1 billion in the first half of 2024, primarily to China. However, this sector is facing many challenges. The Chinese General Administration of Customs has warned about the residue of "heavy metals" in Vietnamese durian. Additionally, the increased competition from Malaysian durian stems from the country's recent approval to export fresh durian to China.

In Vietnam, the area of durian cultivation has doubled compared to the plan, reaching nearly 151,000 hectares with a production of about 1.2 million tons. Although the country has 708 area codes for growing and 168 codes for packing fresh durian, the inspection and supervision after code issuance still have many limitations. As a result, numerous durian shipments receive warnings for plant quarantine and food safety violations.

Opportunities and challenges

The demand for fresh coconut imports from China is very large, opening up new export prospects for Vietnamese coconuts. However, to maintain and expand export markets, Vietnam needs to improve product quality and strictly manage the area codes for cultivation and packing facilities. Competition in the durian sector is becoming fierce, requiring businesses to improve quality and production processes to meet international standards.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, says that with fruit and vegetable production increasing by about 6% each year.