Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to reach a new record of $5.6 billion this year, up 65.5% from 2022 thanks to a surge in demand from China.
Fruits and vegetables exceeded all other key produce categories such as rice, cashew nuts, coffee, and cassava, according to a preliminary forecast by the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association.
The figure exceeded the target by 40%, mostly thanks to China, which accounted for two-thirds of all exports. China imported $3.4 billion worth of vegetables and fruit in the first 11 months, up 148% year-on-year.
There were also increases of between 2% and 31% in demand from other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands. Vinafruit general secretary Dang Phuc Nguyen said that that China has been opening its market to absorb more Vietnamese produce thanks to the signing of several import protocols.
This has resulted in a nine-fold surge in potato exports and six-fold multiplication of chili exports to China. Chinese authorities have also approved the growing of durian, jackfruit, and sweet potatoes in more areas in Vietnam.
