Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports continued to maintain strong growth momentum in 2026 as turnover in the first 8 months reached nearly 5.87 billion USD, up 21.8% compared to the same period last year. Powered by durian alongside several other key fruit commodities, the fruit and vegetable sector stands before the opportunity to approach the 9.5–10 billion USD target for the entire year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in August 2026, fruit and vegetable export turnover reached approximately 1.1 billion USD, up 1.3% compared to the previous month and up 14.6% compared to the same period in 2025. This marks the second consecutive month that this commodity sector has recorded turnover surpassing the 1 billion USD threshold.

Cumulatively for the first 8 months of the year, total fruit and vegetable export turnover reached approximately 5.87 billion USD, up 21.8% compared to the same period last year. Notably, the fruit and vegetable sector surpassed the 5.8 billion USD milestone one month earlier than in 2025, indicating that growth velocity is showing marked improvement.

DURIAN CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER

The single largest growth driver for fruit and vegetable exports continues to come from durian. The fact that key cultivation areas in the Central Highlands such as Dak Lak and Lam Dong have entered peak harvest has generated abundant supply, satisfying the demands of importing markets.

According to data from the Customs Department of Vietnam, in the first 7 months of 2026, durian exports reached approximately 1.77 billion USD, up 47.1% year-on-year and accounting for nearly 37% of the country's total fruit and vegetable export turnover.

Beyond turnover growth, the durian sector also recorded significant expansion in production scale. By the end of 2025, the country's total durian cultivation area reached approximately 195,000 ha, nearly tripling that of 2020. Output grew from around 600,000 tons in 2020 to 1.8 million tons in 2025, and is projected to surpass 2 million tons in 2026.

Notably, during a working mission to China in August 2026, the delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment met with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Audit results showed that 401 growing areas and 166 packaging facilities from Vietnam were approved by the Chinese side, creating favorable conditions for export activities in the coming period.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment piloted a durian traceability system during the first 6 months of 2026, allowing buyers to verify product details via authentication codes on packaging labels. This is considered an important step toward elevating transparency and meeting the increasingly stringent requirements of importing markets.

Alongside durian, numerous other fruits and produce items recorded positive outcomes. Coconut is currently the second-largest export commodity with turnover reaching 367.4 million USD in the first 7 months, up 20% year-on-year. Vietnam currently has about 200,000 ha of coconuts yielding around 2 million tons annually. Notably, about one-third of the area has attained US and European organic certifications.

Pistachios reached 322.8 million USD in the first 7 months, surging by 111%; dragon fruit reached 321.9 million USD; mango reached 265 million USD; banana reached 257.1 million USD; passion fruit reached 186.8 million USD, up 25.6%; jackfruit reached 164.3 million USD, up 12%; almonds reached 102.7 million USD; and chili reached 84.4 million USD.

Commodities such as coconut, passion fruit, jackfruit, chili, pineapple, and pomelo continue to effectively capitalize on domestic supply advantages as well as growing demand from importing markets to expand exports. Notably, passion fruit is increasingly cementing its standing in the European market, accounting for a significant share of fruit and vegetable exports to this region.

BREAKTHROUGH EXPECTATIONS IN THE FINAL 4 MONTHS

China continues to be Vietnam's largest fruit and vegetable consumption market. According to Customs figures, in the first 7 months of 2026, fruit and vegetable exports to this market reached over 2.8 billion USD, up 33.1% compared to the same period last year and accounting for nearly 59% of the entire industry's total export turnover.

The United States is the second-largest market with a turnover of 361.1 million USD, up 14.4%. Following are South Korea at 201.4 million USD and Japan at 147.5 million USD, up 9.6% and 4% respectively.

Beyond traditional destinations, fruit and vegetable exports to the Netherlands, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, and Canada also maintained double-digit growth. Meanwhile, exports to Thailand and the UAE decreased compared to the same period last year.

Another positive signal is India's official opening of its market to fresh Vietnamese durian from mid-July 2026. This is expected to become a new growth engine, helping diversify export destinations and curb dependence on a handful of traditional outlets.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, fruit and vegetable exports are highly likely to sustain strong growth in the closing months of the year, establishing a solid foundation for the entire industry to target a turnover of approximately 9.5–10 billion USD in 2026.

Processed goods such as dried produce, individually quick frozen (IQF) items, and juices continue to hold a share exceeding 30% of total export turnover thanks to plentiful raw materials and value-adding processing capabilities (according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association).

September through October marks the peak harvest period for Central Highlands durian. Concurrently, durian supply from Thailand declines sharply as its harvest has concluded, creating a significant competitive advantage for Vietnamese products in the international market.

Experts forecast that durian alone can contribute 1.2–1.5 billion USD, or even higher, during the final 4 months of the year under favorable market conditions.

Besides seasonality, consumer demand for fruits and vegetables serving major holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Christmas, and the Lunar New Year across China and Northeast Asian nations will rise sharply. This offers opportunities for key commodities like dragon fruit, fresh coconut, pomelo, mango, and passion fruit to expand market share.

Nevertheless, to maintain sustainable growth, the fruit and vegetable sector must continue strictly monitoring product quality, food safety, growing area codes, and packaging facilities, while fully complying with the quarantine and origin traceability mandates of importing markets.

Source: VnEconomy