Many markets increase purchases, fruit and vegetable exports in 7 months are estimated to reach over 3.8 billion USD

It is estimated that in July 2024, fruit and vegetable exports reached 477 million USD, an increase of 18% over the same period, and the cumulative 7 months reached over 3.8 billion USD, an increase of 23.4% over the same period last year.

Fruit and vegetable exports grow strongly in many markets

Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said, preliminary estimate in July 2024, fruit and vegetable export reached 477 million USD, up 18% over the same period in 2023. The cumulative 7 months reached over 3.8 billion USD, up 23.4% over the same period last year. Strong market demand has helped increase fruit and vegetable export turnover since the beginning of the year.

Coconut is expected to join the billion-dollar export category in the near future.

On the other hand, in July, fruit and vegetable imports were estimated at over 200 million USD, a slight increase of 2% over the same period last year. The cumulative 7-month figure was 1.2 billion USD, an increase of nearly 13% over the same period in 2023.

The top 10 fruit and vegetable import markets of Vietnam all grew from 15 - 96% or more. China is still the largest market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, accounting for 64% of total export turnover in the first half of the year, up 22% over the same period last year.

Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - said that Vietnam has officially exported more than a dozen types of fruit to the Chinese market, including: watermelon, mangosteen, durian, fresh banana, sweet potato, dragon fruit, rambutan, mango, lychee, longan, jackfruit. Currently, the two countries have agreed to sign the Fresh Coconut Protocol, opening up export prospects for Vietnamese coconuts.

The second largest export market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables is South Korea, with fruit and vegetable exports to this market reaching 164 million USD, up 57.9% over the same period in 2023. For the United States, the export value to this market reached more than 157 million USD, up 32.4% over the same period last year. The United States is a potential market for fruit and vegetable exporting countries, including Vietnam.

About the item, Durian, banana, and dragon fruit are the main export items of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that due to the durian crop failure, the export turnover of fruits and vegetables in July was also affected.

“In 2023, Vietnam's durian exports will reach their peak value in September and October, with a value of nearly half a billion USD per month. The Central Highlands is the largest durian growing region in the country, and when this region enters the peak harvest season, it will boost the export turnover in the coming months,” Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen shared.

Sharing the same view on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vnfruit) - said that in the coming months, durian exports will likely continue to increase strongly, along with positive signals from the market, the fruit and vegetable industry expects that from now until the end of the year, there will be new records and bring in over 7 billion USD in exports for the whole year of 2024.

Expecting more billion-dollar export items

Regarding fresh coconut, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh said that the import demand for this product in the Chinese market is very large and tends to grow steadily, each year higher than the previous year. Meanwhile, China's coconut output only meets about 10% of domestic consumption demand, the rest is imported. Therefore, if this product is officially exported to the Chinese market, it will help Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports continue to grow positively.

"In the near future, fresh coconuts will be officially exported to China, promising that the fruit and vegetable industry will have another billion-dollar export item," Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh shared.

As an exporter of this product, Mr. Tran Van Duc - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben Tre Coconut Investment Joint Stock Company said that China is a very potential market because it uses up to 2.6 billion fresh coconuts and 1.5 billion coconuts for processing each year. Meanwhile, the country's coconut output only meets 10% of consumption and processing needs, the rest must be imported from many countries. With the advantage of geographical distance, short transportation time and low cost, the product will be competitive with other countries. If Vietnam's fresh coconuts can open up to this market, coconut exports will have a breakthrough.

“If the Export Protocol is signed and businesses exploit their advantages, our coconut industry can earn an additional 300 million USD from the Chinese market. In a few years, the Vietnamese coconut industry can catch up with Thailand,” Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen predicted.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen also stated that, along with fresh durian, in the near future, frozen durian and fresh coconut will be officially exported to the Chinese market, hoping that there will be more billion-dollar export fruits joining the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry.

Source