Vietnam's exports of fruits and vegetables have exceeded USD6 billion for the first time

Following a remarkable export value of USD 917 million in September, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports experienced a notable decline in October, falling to USD 520 million, marking a 43% decrease, according to the General Department of Customs.

Fruit and vegetable traders report that the drop in exports for October is linked to a reduction in durian production, as the Central Highlands, the nation's primary durian-growing area, has concluded its harvest season.

According to data from the Industrial and Trade Information Center (VITIC), which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, there was a decline in durian production in October as the season in the Central Highlands came to a close, while the Mekong Delta and Southeast regions transitioned into their off-season. Across the country, the estimated durian production for October reached 154,200 tons, reflecting a 15% decrease compared to September 2024.

Despite the significant drop in October, fruit and vegetable exports totaled USD 6.16 billion in the first ten months of the year, reflecting a 27.8% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2023. This milestone marks the first occasion that annual exports have exceeded USD 6 billion.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association Dang Phuc Nguyen highlighted that durian has emerged as a key factor, propelling fruit and vegetable exports to surpass USD 6 billion. As September drew to a close, the value of durian exports soared past USD 2.8 billion. By the end of October, it is projected that durian exports will surpass USD 3 billion, with expectations for the year totaling USD 3.5 billion.

VITIC observed that in addition to durian, other significant export fruits such as longan, coconut, mango, and jackfruit have experienced considerable growth in export value relative to 2023. In a notable shift, exports of dragon fruit experienced a downturn, reflecting a 20% drop in the first nine months relative to 2023, amounting to USD 392 million.

This year's surge in the production of several essential fruits has markedly enhanced export growth. VITIC reports that national production of most major fruits has increased compared to 2023, attributed to the expansion of harvest areas. Production of durian increased by more than 20%, reaching over 1.1 million tons; mango saw a rise of 3.6%, totaling 858,000 tons; and orange production grew by 2.3%, amounting to 1.15 million tons. The production of dragon fruit saw a decline of 4.8%, totaling 841,700 tons.

The significant expansion of the Chinese market played a crucial role in enabling Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to exceed USD 6 billion for the first time. In the initial ten months, exports to China totaled USD 4.098 billion, representing a historic milestone as exports to this market exceeded USD 4 billion for the first time, notably exceeding the 2023 record of USD 3.6 billion.

VITIC anticipates that year-end exports will benefit from a rise in global demand, particularly from China, coupled with free trade agreements and trade protocols. As key export fruits such as durian, mango, jackfruit, and longan move into the off-season, supply is expected to tighten. This could lead to a reduction in exports for the remaining months when compared to August and September, particularly for durian.

Despite this, with the USD 6 billion mark surpassed by October, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports could potentially exceed USD 7 billion for the year, requiring only a consistent monthly export value of approximately USD 500 million in the final two months.

As production of durians has decreased since September and export demand continues to soar, prices in key growing areas are experiencing a significant increase. On November 13, in the Mekong Delta, the price of premium grade Dona durian soared to 200,000 VND per kilogram. Nguyen Nhat, a farmer from Xuan Dinh Commune in Xuan Loc District, Dong Nai, has observed a rise in the prices of Southeast durians. The top-grade Dona durian is approaching 200,000 VND per kilogram, while the best quality Ri6 durian is priced at approximately 150,000 VND per kilogram.