Jan-Sep fruit and vegetable exports reach US$1.16 billion

Fruit and vegetable exports brought in US$1.16 billion in the first nine months of 2014, up 45.2% over the same period last year, according to the General Department of Customs.

Vietnamese longan and lychee have been cleared for import to the United States.
Vietnamese longan and lychee have been cleared for import to the United States.

In 2013, the entire export revenue for fruits and vegetables reached only US$1.1 billion.

China remained the largest consumer of Vietnam’s fresh agricultural produce, importing Vietnamese fruit and vegetables worth US$321.4 million, a year-on-year rise of 37.7%.

Main exports to China were mango, lychee, longan, banana, dragon fruit, coconut and pineapple.

Japan and the Republic of Korea came second and third with US$56.2 million and US$43.68 million.

Fruit and vegetable exports to the United States also posted strong growth, rising by 12% to US$41.4 million.

Last month, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service decided to allow imports of lychee and longan from Vietnam into the US.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, large markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Australia are showing greater interest in fruit and vegetables from Vietnam.

With this growth rate, the association predicted that the revenue target of US$1.2 billion for 2014 is achievable.