August fruit and vegetable exports are estimated at USD 1.37 billion, marking the second consecutive month turnover has surpassed the USD 1 billion benchmark. Durian continues to serve as the primary growth engine, while market access to India expands.

Official data from the Customs authorities reveal that Vietnam's fruit and vegetable import-export trade was vibrant across both channels in August and throughout the first eight months of 2026.

Accordingly, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover in August 2026 set a fresh record of USD 1.37 billion, surging 27.6% month-on-month and climbing 44.5% year-on-year. This marks the second month running that fruit and vegetable export value has crossed the USD 1 billion threshold.

Over the first eight months of the year, cumulative fruit and vegetable exports reached approximately USD 6.15 billion, up 27.7% compared to the same period last year.

On the import front, inbound shipments totaled around USD 271 million, down 0.3% from the previous month but up 18.8% year-on-year. For the eight-month stretch, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable imports reached roughly USD 2.12 billion, marking a 26.5% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

According to Nguyen Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), durian remains one of the central drivers propelling horticultural export expansion.

Durian harvesting remains underway across the Central Highlands, projected to make significant contributions to the sector's export receipts throughout September and October. VINAFRUIT leadership anticipates that durian exports will reach approximately USD 4 billion this year.

To maintain the industry's upward trajectory, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported ongoing negotiations to open new outlets and increase market share in high-potential destinations such as India, Australia, and New Zealand.

In July, the Indian Government enacted the 5th Amendment Order of 2026 to the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order. Under these amended regulations, Vietnam has been formally added to the list of nations authorized to export fresh durian to India.

This development has sparked high expectations among exporters. However, Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of VINAFRUIT, noted that Vietnamese businesses must proactively familiarize themselves with local market dynamics, consumer tastes, and purchasing power across this nation of over one billion people, as durian remains relatively novel to the broader Indian public.

He explained that initial demand will likely concentrate across tier-one cities, high-end retail chains, premium imported fruit boutiques, hotels, restaurants, and e-commerce platforms.

Previously, Doan Nguyen Duc (Bau Duc), Chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL), voiced a measured stance regarding the destination's near-term potential. He observed that a fully open, official trade channel with India's 1.4-billion-strong consumer market would represent a massive opportunity for Vietnamese durian.

Nevertheless, the path from policy clearance to ratifying detailed protocols, finalizing phytosanitary standards, and setting up dedicated maritime and air logistics corridors requires a phased roadmap of at least one to two years. Duc affirmed that once established, HAGL will pursue market expansion, backed by its 2,000-hectare durian acreage centered on the flagship Monthong and Musang King varieties.

The HAGL Chairman pointed out that for now, the combined durian supply capacity of both Vietnam and Thailand remains insufficient to fully satisfy the appetites of their traditional Chinese buyer base.

As one of the region's largest durian acreage holders, HAGL intends to track trade negotiations closely while avoiding premature moves, focusing instead on optimizing yield and quality across existing farming blocks before penetrating new export destinations.

Source: Bao VietNamNet