Vietnam's Fruit and Vegetable Exports See Robust Growth

June 7, 2024 - Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports have seen remarkable growth in the first 5 months of 2024, increasing by 28.1% and generating nearly $3 billion in revenue. Experts predict that the sector's annual export value could reach a record $6-7 billion this year.

One bright spot has been the European market, which is opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese produce. In late May, the Lychee area of Hai Duong province exported its first batch of fresh lychees to Europe. Vietnamese company Amei shipped 2 tons of lychees that met GlobalGAP standards to France, a market with very high food safety requirements.

"The European market has huge demand for lychees and many other Vietnamese agricultural products. However, the requirements for cultivation area and product quality are very high," said Nguyen Cong Tien, Chairman of Amei. The company has already secured many orders and is working closely with farmers to meet market demand, despite this year's lower lychee harvest.

According to the Hai Duong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, meeting the strict Codex standards required for the European market was the biggest hurdle the lychee exporters had to overcome. Overcoming this barrier shows that Hai Duong's lychees now meet the quality and food safety requirements to access the European market.

The export growth is not limited to lychees. Vietnam has also surpassed Thailand as the largest supplier of durian to the Chinese market, and has eclipsed the Philippines as the top exporter of fresh bananas to China. Industry experts believe Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products have huge export potential beyond just the Chinese market.

"Vietnamese agricultural products and fruits are not only popular in Europe or North America, but also very attractive in many other markets," said Mr. Zoller, Managing Director of Tentamus Group. However, exporters must stay updated on import market regulations to consistently provide quality products and increase export volumes.

With China set to open its market for frozen durian and fresh coconut, the outlook for Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports remains optimistic. If these two products gain access to China soon, the sector's exports could reach a record $6-7 billion this year.