As predicted, fruit and vegetable exports in 2024 set a new record, bringing in 7.1 billion USD. In 2025, with many favorable factors, Vietnamese fruits aim to bring in at least 8 billion USD in export turnover. If Vietnam successfully conquers this milestone, it will enter the top 5 countries in the world in fruit exports.

Traders in Tien Giang pack dragon fruit for export.

Confident in 2025 targets

According to data from the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance), the preliminary export value of fruits and vegetables in December 2024 reached nearly 474 million USD, up 3.5% over the previous month and up 15.6% over the same period. In the 12 months of 2024, fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to reach nearly 7.1 billion USD, up nearly 27% over the same period. This is a new record for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry and also a bright spot in the picture of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2024.

Topping the list of exported fruits and vegetables is durian with an estimated value of 3.3 billion USD; followed by dragon fruit with about 435 million USD; followed by bananas, mangoes and some other items such as jackfruit, coconut, watermelon, etc.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) also shows that fruit and vegetable exports reached 7.1 billion USD, an increase of nearly 27% over the same period in 2023. This is a new record for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry and is also a bright spot in the picture of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in 2024.

According to the MARD, the above results were due to the remarkable growth in the output of key fruits, combined with the effective exploitation of the Chinese market. These factors have helped Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports achieve remarkable achievements in recent times.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh – Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the export results in 2024 were due to the accumulation of achievements from previous years. Accordingly, the increasing number of officially exported fruits and vegetables has helped exported fruits and vegetables increase their market share in major markets. For example, from the 3rd position, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports have risen to the 2nd position in the Chinese market. In the US market, fruit and vegetable exports have grown by more than 30%, in Thailand by more than 80%…

Trade promotion activities on fruit and vegetables are increasingly receiving attention and investment from all levels, sectors, and industry associations. Combined with 16 new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs), the fruit and vegetable industry has many opportunities to access potential markets.

According to Mr. Binh, the success of the fruit and vegetable industry has contributed significantly to the professional units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Thanks to market information, quarantine requirements, the role of a bridge… being maintained and stabilized.

With a lot of market space, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association expects that the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry can bring in more than 8 billion USD in 2025. In particular, there are many new factors appearing such as frozen durian, fresh coconut exported to China, and passion fruit currently being negotiated with the US.

The reason is that the world market demand for this product is increasing, while Vietnam is doing a very good job of opening the market. With the official signing of the Protocol on phytosanitary requirements and food safety for frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China; Protocol on phytosanitary requirements for fresh coconut exported from Vietnam to China, the door to a large market has opened for two key products of the fruit and vegetable industry. On the other hand, the quality of Vietnamese fruit products is also increasingly improved, meeting the standard requirements of each importing country, thereby increasing competitiveness when penetrating many high-quality markets.

According to information from the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), it is expected that in 2025, Vietnamese passion fruit products will be officially licensed for export to the US market. This is the result of the negotiation process between Vietnam and the United States on phytosanitary measures for this fruit. Currently, the technical negotiations have been completed and the two sides are completing the necessary legal procedures. Industry experts say that the licensing of passion fruit products into the US market promises to create great momentum for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry to continue expanding exports, especially to other demanding markets.

Durian is the fruit with the largest export turnover in 2024.

Promoting processing, increasing export value

Regarding the export target of 8 billion USD in 2025, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen – General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, commented that in 2025, durian will continue to be the main product and China will still be Vietnam’s largest durian export market, accounting for over 90% of the export value of this fruit. Fresh coconut products will also be assessed and inspected for the second phase of growing area codes by Chinese Customs. Therefore, capacity, growing area and output will also make a breakthrough. In addition, Vietnam will have more passion fruit products exported to the US and lychee is completing documents to access the Korean market. It is forecasted that the export turnover of passion fruit to the US will reach 50-100 million USD each year. Therefore, it is feasible that in 2025, the export of vegetables and fruits will earn 8 billion USD. In addition, grapefruit is also expected to be a fruit next year.

Commenting on the export turnover target of 8 billion USD in 2025 and the target of 10 billion USD, many experts believe that this target is feasible and not too far away to reach 10 billion USD, however, it is necessary to be careful and go slowly, not chasing growth but focusing on prioritizing quality development.

In fact, besides the favorable factors according to the Fruit and Vegetable Association, trade tensions between the United States and China, global geopolitical conflicts… are major challenges. For more sustainable exports, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh said that it is necessary to pay attention to post-harvest technology, improve product quality, and improve business compliance capacity.

Currently, to meet the strict standards from the markets, many localities have shifted production towards high quality. For example, in Hung Yen, according to the report of the Provincial People’s Committee, the province has more than 3,100 hectares of vegetables, tubers, and fruits produced according to VietGAP and organic production processes; has converted thousands of hectares of land for low-efficiency crops to grow perennial and annual crops combined with livestock and aquaculture of high value.

Along with Hung Yen, many provinces and cities across the country have focused on building crop product chains to turn fruits and vegetables into Vietnam’s strong products. For more sustainable exports, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung said that enterprises need to pay attention to post-harvest technology, improve product quality, added value, and limit seasonal risks.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung also said that in the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to negotiate to open the market, support the development of growing area codes, packaging facility codes, and develop national standards for key products. Along with that, there will be stricter legal institutions to help protect genuine producers.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/xuat-khau-trai-cay-ky-vong-but-pha-10297661.html