In the first eight months of 2026, China remained Vietnam’s largest fruit and vegetable export destination, taking in nearly USD 3.9 billion—nine times the intake of the US market.

According to figures from the Customs Department (Ministry of Finance), Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports continued their breakout momentum in August, with monthly turnover surpassing USD 1.37 billion, up 27.6% month-on-month and 44.5% year-on-year compared to August 2025. Cumulative export earnings for the first eight months totaled more than USD 6.15 billion, marking a 27.7% increase year-on-year.

China – Vietnam’s largest fruit and vegetable importer

Over the eight-month stretch, China continued to serve as Vietnam’s largest fruit and vegetable buyer, generating over USD 3.87 billion, up 38.8% year-on-year and capturing 62.97% of the industry's total export earnings.

Notably, China's market share expanded substantially from 57.92% recorded in the same period last year. In August alone, fruit and vegetable shipments to China crossed USD 1.06 billion, surging 36.9% compared to July and climbing 56.7% compared to August 2025.

Customs statistics also show that the distance between China and other export markets remains vast.

Specifically, the US market ranked second, with eight-month turnover of nearly USD 428 million, up 17.9% year-on-year and accounting for nearly 7% of total export value. In August alone, exports to the US stood at nearly USD 67 million, edging down slightly from the preceding month but still up 41.1% year-on-year.

South Korea held third place with over USD 233 million, a 9.7% increase. Notably, in the first seven months of the year, fruit and vegetable deliveries to South Korea reached roughly USD 201 million, with durian export turnover surging nearly 200% year-on-year.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), Vietnam's produce market share in South Korea has improved thanks to tariff preferences under the Vietnam–Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), alongside an increasingly diversified supply. However, this market also enforces stringent mandates regarding pesticide residue limits, quarantine protocols, and fresh fruit treatment.

Following closely behind South Korea was Japan, with turnover of nearly USD 173 million over the eight months, up 5.8% year-on-year. In August alone, shipments to Japan totaled over USD 25.3 million, up 20.4% from the previous month and 18.1% compared to August 2025.

Among European markets, the Netherlands stood out with an eight-month turnover of over USD 152 million, up 38.2% year-on-year. Its share in Vietnam's total produce exports rose from 2.29% to 2.48%. Germany reached nearly USD 79 million, surging 43.1%.

Several other destinations also posted rapid growth: Malaysia reached over USD 85.6 million, up 36.1%; Russia generated nearly USD 65.9 million, climbing 39.4%. While Cambodia’s import scale remains small, turnover jumped more than 125% to reach nearly USD 49 million.

Road to USD 10 billion still hinges on two peak months

Assessing prospects for the closing months of the year, Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, noted that September and October will continue to be peak export months, with monthly turnover potentially surpassing USD 1 billion.

Within this basket, durian is still projected to serve as the prime growth driver, potentially yielding around USD 4–4.5 billion for the full year. Given current momentum, Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export turnover in 2026 has the potential to reach USD 9.5–10 billion.

Even so, Nguyen stressed that hitting this milestone will hinge on maintaining product quality, ensuring traceability, strictly managing planting zone codes, and raising the proportion of processed horticultural products.

“Elevating quality inevitably increases production costs. For example, rather than relying on pesticide sprays to control pests and diseases, growers may need to practice fruit bagging, invest in greenhouse netting, apply biological treatments, or follow more rigorous farming protocols. In return, compliant products will secure access to high-value markets instead of being confined to domestic consumption or sold at distressed prices,” Nguyen emphasized.

Source: Tap chi dien tu Nong thon Viet