Fruit and vegetable exports increase sharply thanks to FTAs

Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports have reached US$1.35 billion, up 9.5% over the same period last year, including many highpotential markets.

Farmers harvest dragon fruit for export. (Photo: VNA)
Farmers harvest dragon fruit for export. (Photo: VNA)

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (VINAFRUIT), taking advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) is paving the way for businesses to increase revenue from fruit and vegetableexports this year.

There are currently many big potential markets for Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports such as Egypt, Kuwait, Ukraine, Senegal, and others. In particular, the market with the strongest increase in fruit and vegetable export value is that of Ukraine (up nearly seven times).

China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables during the period with a market share of nearly 65%. Fruit and vegetables exports to this market had a good growth rate of more than 16% over the same period last year.

VINAFRUIT said that the UKVFTA will also create a new driving force for economic and trade cooperation between the two sides in the coming time.

Many products that are the strengths of Vietnam such as litchi, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, pineapple, melon, etc. will have more advantages in market access in the context that fruits from competitive countries such as Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia have yet to establish free trade agreements with this market.