Vietnams veggie exports stage strong growth

Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports in the first four months of the year rose a staggering 29% year-on-year to some US$1.3 billion, with China-bound shipments generating nearly US$1 billion, customs data shows.

Fruits are seen at a supermarket in HCMC. Numerous foreign markets have increased vegetable and fruit imports from Vietnam - PHOTO: HUNG LE

Last month alone saw veggie export revenue hitting US349.6 million, up 8.7% month-on-month, according to data of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Exports of vegetables and fruits to neighboring China fetched US$988.8 million in the four months, up 30.1% year-on-year, which accounted for 75% of Vietnam’s total export revenue in the sector. Last year’s corresponding proportion was 74.3%.

The customs said that besides China, 14 other importers of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits have also bought much more than in the same period last year.

The United States, Vietnam’s second biggest importer of vegetables, spent over US$38.8 million importing such farm produce in the past four months, a year-on-year surge of 12.8%.

Meanwhile, Japan spent US$36.6 million on Vietnamese vegetables and fruits, up by 16.4% year-on-year, followed by South Korea and Thailand with US$34.78 million and US$22.65 million respectively, soaring 13.5% and 28.8%.

Notably, scores of new buyers have spent much more money on Vietnamese veggies, including Australia with US$9 million, up 35.1%, France with US$8 million, up a whopping 42.9%, and Canada US$7 million, up 26.8%.

Data of the department also indicates that only Russia and Taiwan have recently reduced veggie imports from Vietnam.

Analysts attributed Vietnam’s strong surge in veggies export revenue to high quality and safe products and technical barriers being removed recently to create favorable conditions for other farm produce like dragon fruit, rambutan, longan and lychee to enter numerous choosy markets such as Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.