With July 2026 export turnover reaching a record figure of 1.12 billion USD, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable sector is demonstrating powerful resilience. Within which, transitioning from fresh exports to deep processing not only helps overcome logistics barriers to distant markets like the EU, but also serves as a sustainable strategy to elevate value-added content and resolve post-harvest loss dilemmas.

Record figures and the rise of processed goods

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, agricultural export performance—particularly regarding fruits and vegetables—recorded unprecedented results. Specifically, July fruit and vegetable export turnover officially surpassed the 1 billion USD/month threshold, reaching 1.12 billion USD, marking the highest monthly figure ever recorded. Overall for the first 7 months of the year, alongside a 28.1% growth rate in nationwide import-export turnover, the fruit and vegetable sector contributed a crucial part toward macroeconomic stability and trade surplus expansion.

Notably, within the overall growth picture, the European Union (EU) market is emerging as a bright spot regarding quality and value. According to data from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), in the first 6 months of 2026, exports to the EU reached approximately 214.4 million USD, up 31.8% compared to the same period last year. In June 2026 alone, turnover to this market surged by 37.9% compared to the same period in 2025.

The greatest distinction of the EU market relative to traditional markets lies in the proportion of processed goods. While across the entire industry, processed products occupy approximately 30.85% of total turnover, in the EU this figure accounts for nearly two-thirds. This demonstrates that deep processing serves as the "entry ticket" assisting Vietnamese agricultural products to penetrate deeply into demanding, high-value supply chains.

Accelerating deep processing represents not merely a trend, but an urgent requirement to overcome the industry's inherent weaknesses. Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of Vinafruit, pointed out that Vietnam's post-harvest loss rate currently remains very high, at 30–40%, whereas this figure in Thailand stands at merely 10–15%.

For distant markets like the EU, geographical distance presents the greatest barrier. Transporting fresh goods via air freight is rapid but excessively costly, while sea routes demand stringent preservation technology. Deep processing under forms such as quick-freezing, drying, grinding, puree manufacturing, or juice processing has assisted enterprises in overcoming this hurdle. Processed agricultural products possess longer shelf lives, reduce losses, and particularly utilize raw materials that fail cosmetic specifications for fresh sales while still guaranteeing intrinsic quality.

Practical data reveals that processed products are experiencing skyrocketing growth rates. Exports of processed passion fruit reached 123.19 million USD (up 37.5%), processed potatoes surged by 100.7%, and processed dragon fruit rose by 50.1%. Across key markets such as Germany, the import value of processed fruit and vegetable groups from Vietnam jumped by 126%, reaching 28.24 million EUR in the first 5 months of 2026.

Multiple "bottlenecks" requiring resolution

Despite attaining positive outcomes, according to Mr. Binh, Chairman of Vinafruit, this commodity sector continues facing critical challenges if it wishes to maintain its acceleration momentum through late 2026.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of Vinafruit, evaluated that fruit and vegetable exports must still confront barriers regarding technical standards, growing area code and packaging facility issues, alongside limited investment capacity for deep processing.

To realize the goal of elevating the fruit and vegetable sector into a sustainable billion-dollar industry, Vinafruit put forward multiple recommendations: Innovating processes and simplifying procedures for issuing growing area codes and packaging facility codes. Particularly, accelerating negotiations with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to speed up border clearance in the Chinese market, while expanding growing code areas and approving new permitted export products. A newly emerging issue requires addressing heavy metal accumulation in soil across export fruit production zones to guarantee sustainability standards.

The Association expects more substantive support policies to enable enterprises to boldly invest in deep processing.

At a recent Government meeting, the Prime Minister also issued decisive directives, requesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to promptly resolve administrative and land procedure obstacles to support residents and enterprises. Particularly, shifting strongly toward "self-declaration and post-inspection" mechanisms in granting growing area codes under Resolution 36/2026/NQ-CP is expected to shorten timelines significantly, helping enterprises seize market opportunities more effectively.

Concentrating on deep processing, coupled with tight quality control at the source and strong Government partnership through capital, tax, and administrative reform policies, will establish the foundation for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to move beyond temporary record figures to become a sustainable export pillar, affirming standing on the global agricultural map.

The breakthrough of fruit and vegetable exports in July 2026 and the impressive growth in the EU market driven by deep processing serve as evidence of the agricultural sector's correct direction. However, to "leap the dragon gate," the fruit and vegetable sector cannot rely solely on existing natural advantages or raw bulk exports.

Source: Bao Chinh phu