Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports may reach a record export turnover of 7 billion USD this year, as fruit and vegetable exports in the past seven months reached 3.83 billion USD, up 24.3% over the same period last year.

Green-skin pomelo packaging line for export at Huong Mien Tay Facility, Phuoc Trung Hamlet, Phuoc My Trung Commune, Mo Cay Bac District (Ben Tre Province). (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA).

Steady double-digit growth has helped Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports continuously set new records. With the current momentum and growth, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports can reach a record export turnover of 7 billion USD this year.

This is completely grounded when the export turnover of fruit and vegetable in the first seven months reached 3.83 billion USD, an increase of 24.3% over the same period. Notably, in the Top 10 export markets of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable (except the Netherlands), this item all had double-digit growth.

Especially when recently, Korea agreed to import fresh grapefruit from Vietnam and durian from the Central Highlands is entering the season when Thailand is out of season.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said: The export value of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable to Korea and Japan is increasingly increasing.

Besides building brand and position in the traditional Chinese market, the fruit and vegetable industry is increasingly expanding in Northeast Asia.

In Northeast Asia, China and South Korea are the two countries with the highest fruit and vegetable export turnover of Vietnam. China is the leading market, accounting for 64% of total export turnover, up 22% over the same period. Next, South Korea also increased by 55% over the same period.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen said that in the future, Northeast Asia will be a strategic market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. Exporting enterprises not only benefit from tariffs but also reduce transportation and logistics costs compared to markets such as the EU, the US, etc.

According to the Plant Protection Department, in the RCEP Agreement bloc, the largest amount of Vietnamese fruit products are allowed to be exported to China with 12 products, in addition to passion fruit, chili is temporarily exported and coconut is exported on a pilot basis.

Next is New Zealand with 5 products: mango, dragon fruit, rambutan, lemon, grapefruit. As for the Japanese market, Vietnam has exported dragon fruit, mango, longan and lychee and is negotiating to export grapefruit.

The Plant Protection Department is opening the market for citrus fruits, medicinal plants and frozen durian to China. In addition, passion fruit, longan and lychee are also negotiating to export to Australia; passion fruit and grapefruit to New Zealand.

According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, when there is a free trade agreement, import tax reduction, countries will put up technical barriers. This requires Vietnamese producers and exporters to continuously update import regulations of markets to promptly respond.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Muoi, Deputy General Director of Vina T&T Import Export Company Limited, shared that currently, fruit importing countries all put up different technical barriers, forcing businesses and producers to absolutely comply. Therefore, farmers producing exported fruits need to strictly follow technical procedures.

On the winning streak, businesses are currently promoting the expansion of export markets. Accordingly, a major contributor to fruit and vegetable export turnover is durian. In the first half of this year, durian exports reached 1.32 billion USD, up 45% over the same period last year.

Currently, the Central Highlands durian crop is in harvest season and is an opportunity for durian to break through and affirm its position, especially in the Chinese market. Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen commented that durian exports could reach about 3 billion USD.

Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy, General Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Corporation, said that durian is still a fruit that will develop well in the coming years.

In addition to China, export enterprises are expanding their markets to many countries in the world with potential such as India, Asian countries, etc.

However, in order for the durian industry to develop and export smoothly, Vietnam needs to issue standards on post-harvest processing and preservation so that the export business community has a basis for implementation.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department, the area of ​​durian with new growing area codes is about 25,000 hectares compared to the total durian growing area of ​​about 150,000 hectares in the country.

Vietnam continues to request China to expand the growing area codes. However, the industry will not only focus on expanding the growing area and increasing the area, but it is time to focus on quality control and management.

It is expected that in 2024, a protocol can be signed for frozen durian products. Frozen durian products will help diversify products for the durian industry; there will be more technology and measures to preserve durian longer and thereby reduce seasonal pressure.

Gardeners will focus more on high-quality fresh fruit products for export. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said: The production organization process from raw material areas, growing areas to codes, packaging facilities...

The Plant Protection Department is managing very closely and in the context of deep integration, it requires the entire production chain to be updated, meet, and even exceed market demand. This is an inevitable requirement to build a brand for Vietnamese agricultural products.

“Acumen and strict compliance with international regulations are fundamental solutions for all industries to develop sustainably, including fruits and vegetables. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with ministries, sectors and localities, will tighten management of quality and growing areas. With a large and stable supply, the quality problem needs to be effectively solved for higher growth in fruit and vegetable exports,” Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized./.

Source: Kinh Te Nong Thon