Fruit and vegetable exports continued to break out in the first quarter, reaching 1.53 billion USD. China remains the leading market, while many other markets are growing strongly, expanding the potential for Vietnamese goods.

Information from the Agency of Foreign Trade (Ministry of Industry and Trade) indicates that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export activities in March and the first quarter continued to see favorable growth, becoming the most significant "bright spot" within the agriculture, forestry, and fishery product group.

Citing statistical data from the Department of Customs, fruit and vegetable export turnover in March reached 532.21 million USD, an 11.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. For the entire first quarter, export turnover reached 1.53 billion USD, up 31.4% year-on-year.

China remains the mainstay market; however, other markets are showing clear differentiation. Statistics show that the export growth rate of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to several potential markets, including the US, South Korea, Malaysia, Germany, and the Netherlands, has reached high levels.

Regarding the Chinese market specifically, according to its customs data, imports of vegetables, flowers, tubers, fruits, and processed products in the first two months reached 4.65 billion USD, a slight decrease of 0.1% over the same period. Notably, imports increased from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

In the first two months of the year, China's imports of vegetables, flowers, tubers, and fruits from Vietnam rose sharply compared to the low baseline of 2025. In early 2025, China intensified inspections for pesticide residues, Auramine O, and Cadmium, which caused a sharp decline in Vietnamese durian exports.

The Agency of Foreign Trade assessed that China's imports from Vietnam recorded a 65.4% increase, demonstrating that our country is effectively leveraging its geographical advantages and successfully meeting market regulations to maintain more sustainable exports for this product group.

The market share of Vietnamese vegetables, fruits, and processed products within China's total import turnover rose from 8.72% in the first two months of 2025 to 14.43% in the first two months of this year.

The Agency of Foreign Trade forecasts that in the second quarter, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports will continue to grow positively as new protocols for frozen fruits and fresh coconuts operate smoothly, and particularly as many specialty fruits enter their main harvest season (lychee, mango, and main-crop durian).

However, the agency noted that controlling pesticide residues and managing growing area codes remain key factors in maintaining sustainable growth in demanding markets such as the EU and the US.

Source: Bao dien tu Dan tri