Fruit, vegetables exports to hit 4 billion USD

Illustrative image (Source: baodautu.vn)

Vietnam is expected to rake in 4 billion USD from fruit and vegetables exports this year if the H1 pace is maintained in the second half of this year.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (VinaFruit) said the export turnover was over 360 million USD in June, up 38 percent from the same period last year, pushing the value in the first half to nearly 2.1 billion USD, up 17.7 percent year-on-year.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, VinaFruit General Secretary, said Vietnam’s fruit and vegetables export has recovered in major markets, with less reliance on China and increases in demanding markets like the EU, the US, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan.

However, the neighbouring country of China has remained the biggest buyer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables, accounting for up to 56 percent of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetables export value.

Nine types of Vietnamese fruits are allowed to enter the Chinese market via the official channel, namely dragon fruit, longan, mango, lychee, banana, jackfruit, rambutan, watermelon and mangosteen. Besides, China has also granted temporary licenses to Vietnamese sweet potato and durian.

Nguyen Xuan Giang, Director of the Hoang Ha Service and Trading Company Limited in the northern border province of Lang Son, said China has imposed more requirements on Vietnamese agricultural products.

To maintain exports to China, local firms should work to satisfy requirements regarding quality, packaging and area codes, he suggested./.