Thailand becomes Vietnam's top fruit supplier

Thailand has surpassed China to become the biggest fruit supplier to Vietnam as the locals spent over USD102m on fruits and vegetables last month.

Thailand has surpassed China to become the biggest fruit supplier to Vietnam as the locals spent over USD102m on fruits and vegetables last month.

 

Thailand becomes Vietnam's top fruit supplier

Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs in the first eight months of 2018 show that Thailand is the leading fruit supplier with a total import value of USD515m out of USD1.14trn. This represented an average monthly spend of USD64.4m on Thai fruits by Vietnamese consumers. In August alone, Vietnam imported USD102m worth of fruits and vegetables from Thailand.

Meanwhile, the value of fruit import from China last month totalled USD51.3m, and USD 250.6m in the first eight months. The US and Australia followed with USD109.3m and USD70m.

While Vietnam imports a variety of fruits and vegetables from Thailand, from tomatoes to mangos, most of the import fruits from the US, Australia or New Zealand are kiwis, seedless grapes and apples. The General Department of Vietnam Customs said imported fruits were increasingly popular than local products and this may lead to a sharp price decline.

Thai fruits and vegetables have become popular in Vietnam in recent years. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement has helped boost imports after taxes were slashed for ASEAN countries. Moreover, Vietnamese firms are also importing a huge amount of Thai fruit, especially longans and durians, for process and re-export.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said 90% of Thai imported fruits were re-exported to China, including durian and mangosteens.