Fruit and vegetable exports increase "breakthrough"

Fruit and vegetable export turnover has seen a breakthrough growth since the beginning of the year. According to data from the General Department of Customs, from the beginning of the year to March 15, 2024, fruit and vegetable exports earned more than 1.03 billion USD, about 3 times higher than the same period in 2023.

Demand for fruits and vegetables in many markets is recovering.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung - General Director of Vina T&T Group shared that the company's fruit and vegetable exports in the first two months of 2024 increased by about 15% compared to the same period last year. The reason is that fruit and vegetable exports in the first month of the year increased sharply as gifts during the Lunar New Year for Asians. Currently, the company is exporting longan, dragon fruit, mango to the US and Australian markets, exporting durian to the Chinese market, in addition, the company also exports many types of fruit and vegetables to Canada...

Ms. Nguyen Nam Phuong Thao - Sales Director of Hoang Phat Fruit Company Limited said that the company has just exported 13 tons of mango with small seeds to Korea. In the near future, the company will sign a contract with Cu Lao Gieng Cooperative to buy 500 tons/year to continue exporting to the Korean market and may expand in the future. Previously, the United States, Japan and Australia also agreed to import this item at a fairly high price. This is the result of the investment process from production towards focusing on quality between farmers, cooperatives and exporting enterprises.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), continuing the strong growth momentum in 2023, fruit and vegetable exports in the first months of this year continued to grow positively. Key export items include fresh coconut, dragon fruit, grapefruit, banana, mango and especially durian. Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Association said that the estimated export turnover of fruit and vegetables in March reached 450 million USD. Thus, fruit and vegetable exports in the first 3 months of 2024 could reach 1.265 billion USD.

“China is Vietnam’s main fruit and vegetable export market, accounting for about 62% in the first two months of 2024. The most prominent export item is durian, which is very popular with Chinese consumers. Durian has helped increase fruit and vegetable export turnover compared to previous years,” said Dang Phuc Nguyen.

Notably, fruit and vegetable exports to famously demanding markets with very high quality requirements such as the US, South Korea, Japan and Australia all unexpectedly grew strongly in the first months of the year. Specifically, fruit and vegetable exports to South Korea reached 22 million USD, an increase of 121% over the same period last year. Fruit and vegetable exports to the US also recorded a growth of 83% to 22 million USD. As for the Japanese market, it reached 16 million USD, an increase of 53%. In the Australian market, fruit and vegetable exports also earned 9 million USD, an increase of 75% over the same period last year. China is Vietnam's largest fruit and vegetable export market, accounting for more than 60% of the country's total export turnover.

Want to enter the high-end market must export officially

Currently, Vietnam's fruit exports are competing fiercely with Thailand and Malaysia. Sharing about this issue, Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy - Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Corporation said: "If Vietnam does well in product quality, farmers cooperate with businesses to create high-end product lines, we will not be afraid of any powerful country, including Thailand or Malaysia. Because Vietnam has great potential in terms of soil, climate, and can be grown all year round. Not only durian but all other fruit products grown in Vietnam are delicious and of good quality. We need to promote Vietnam's unique varieties, good cultivation, safety for consumers' health and need to promote national brands".

In order to penetrate the large market, according to many experts, products also need to quickly switch to official export with a long-term vision and quality. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung said that if we want to export vegetables and fruits sustainably, we must export officially, ensuring product quality. We must ensure that we meet the technical requirements of importing countries in order to export sustainably, building a brand of high-quality Vietnamese goods compared to goods from other countries so that consumers in importing countries will favor them.

“We are currently going against that trend, exporting only by quantity, buying and selling haphazardly will lose our brand. When we lose our brand, consumers will turn their backs, causing unpredictable consequences such as losing the market…”, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung shared.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen said that with official export, goods can properly enter foreign markets. Official goods can enter supermarkets and official sales locations. If they go through unofficial channels, they can only be sold in markets or near the border. Or if they are sold under someone else's brand, they cannot develop large quantities. "If businesses want to enter high-end markets or supermarkets, they must export through official channels," Mr. Nguyen affirmed.

In addition, management agencies also need to strictly control the growing area code, packaging factory code or product quality. According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung, if we manage loosely, it will affect all Vietnamese goods, not just any business. "In my opinion, we need to focus on management. When we do well in management, then we can build a good brand. We also have many lessons that are small violations but affect the entire agricultural sector of Vietnam," Mr. Tung advised.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen predicts that in the coming time, fruit and vegetable exports to the Chinese market will grow strongly. Vietnam's largest durian export market is still the Chinese market, followed by coconuts. Coconut export turnover is expected to be billions of USD. Other markets such as the EU and the East Coast of the US are affected by the Red Sea event, causing difficulties in long-distance transportation, and some fruit and vegetable products cannot meet preservation needs. Meanwhile, fruit and vegetable exports to the West Coast of the US, Australia or Asian markets are still guaranteed to grow.

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