According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), Vietnam posted USD5.2 billion in fruit and vegetable exports, up 70 percent on year between January and November this year.
The value of Vietnam’s durian exports to China would reach roughly USD2.3 billion this year.
China was the biggest importer of Vietnam's fruits and vegetables, accounting for some 66 percent of the country’s fruit and vegetable export value in the first ten months of this year with USD3.2 billion. It was followed by the US, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The value of Vietnam’s durian exports to China would reach roughly USD2.3 billion this year following China’s permission to import Vietnamese durians under an official quota since July last year. This is among the major factors helping Vietnam achieve USD5.2 billion in fruit and vegetable exports during the January-November period.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of Vinafruit, said China spends more than USD15 billion on importing fruits and vegetables, mostly from Thailand, Chile and Vietnam every year. Vietnam has a geographical advantage that can boost its fruit and vegetable export value to this market.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s coming visit to Vietnam on December 12-13 is expected to open more opportunities for the nation’s farm produce exports to China. If Vietnam and China soon sign protocols on exports of coconut products, frozen fruit, and watermelons, it would help Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export value to China to grow by at least USD1 billion.
Ngo Tuong Vi, general director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Group JSC, said that around 90 percent of Vietnam's durians is exported to China. However, China’s durian market is mostly dominated by products from Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnamese durian products hold only a 5 percent market share in China.
Vi’s company has received lots of interest from Chinese partners, but to date, the firm has only agreed a tenth of these.
