Exports of fruits and vegetables in the second half of the year have a great deal of growth potential.

DNHN - Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department within the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has predicted that based on the current growth rate, fruit, and vegetable exports in the second half of 2023 will continue to exhibit.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the first seven months of 2023 saw a significant increase in fruit and vegetable exports. To reach $3.23 billion, an increase of 68% over the same period last year was recorded. Considered to be the primary cause of this increase is China's robust import demand recovery.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development explained that the agreements and arrangements Vietnam signed with China in the previous year created favorable conditions for Vietnam's export of fruits and vegetables in the previous year, from the start of 2023 to the present.

Durian, mango, dragon fruit, and banana contributed the most to the list of products. This year, durian is the fruit with the greatest potential to reach $1 billion in sales.

According to exporters, the improved quality of Vietnam's durian and bananas has made them increasingly popular in many countries. Particularly, the durian harvest lasts from February to June in the West, and from June to October in the East and Central Highlands, resulting in a plentiful supply and competitive prices compared to Thai and Philippine imports.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, durian is one of the export industry's most robust growth drivers. In the first six months of 2023, durian export revenue reached approximately 850 million USD, which was double that of the entire year 2022. Ninety percent of this revenue was transferred to China. It is anticipated that Vietnam's durian exports will reach between $1.2 and $1.5 billion in 2023.

The latest good news for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry is that the coconut skull has officially "received a visa" to be imported into the United States. This positive indicator encourages the coconut industry and related products to reach their 2023 export goal of over USD 1 billion.

Vietnam is currently seventh in the world in terms of coconut production. About 188,000 hectares are devoted to coconut cultivation, primarily in the provinces of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long. There are currently more than 90 companies exporting coconut products, of which 42 export products with extensive processing.

In addition, Vietnam's exports of other fruits to China increased significantly due to the market's rising demand for imports. Not only to China, but also to South Korea, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), fruit and vegetable exports have recorded high year-to-date growth rates.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department within the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has predicted that based on the current growth rate, fruit, and vegetable exports in the second half of 2023 will continue to exhibit positive growth potential. During the holiday season, market demand will increase significantly. In the third and fourth quarters of 2023, it is anticipated that the entire nation will need to consume nearly 7.6 million tonnes of critical fruits. Shortly, an abundance of fruit will meet export demand.

PV (t/h)