Vietnam’s fruit exports surge in certain markets despite coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic caused Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to decline by 12.2% in the first six months but shipments to certain markets witnessed strong growth during the period.

Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to many markets saw strong growth.
Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to many markets saw strong growth.

According to the agriculture ministry, exports to Thailand surged by 233.4% to US$68 million while shipments to the Republic of Korea increased by 21.8% to US$67.4 million.

Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to Japan and the Netherlands rose by 15.5% and 9% respectively to US$57.7 million and US$34 million.

Shipments to the United States also climbed by 6.1% and reached US$62 million.

But exports to China, the largest market for Vietnamese fruit and vegetables with a 60.4% market share, fell by 29.1% to a little over US$906 million, compared with US$1.3 billion last year.

With the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement set to take effect on August 1, Vietnam will have more opportunities to boost fruit exports as 94% of tariffs on these products will be eliminated.

In addition, Japan is seeking to increase its fruit and vegetable imports from Vietnam for products such as bananas, dragon fruits, sweet potatoes and lychees.