Fruit and vegetable imports surpass $1 billion, with Thailand holding a 60% market share.

According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the export value of fruits and vegetables in September 2017 was estimated at US$294 million, bringing the total export value for the first nine months of 2017 to an estimated US$2.64 billion, an increase of 44.2% compared to the same period in 2016.

China, Japan, the United States, and South Korea were the top four importing markets for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in the first eight months of 2017, accounting for 85.2% of the total export value. In the first eight months of 2017, markets with strong growth in fruit and vegetable exports included Japan (64.6%), the United Arab Emirates (64.4%), China (60.2%), Russia (41.9%), the United States (26.6%), Taiwan (16.1%), and the Netherlands (9.4%).

Growth rate of some export markets for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in the first 8 months of the year (Unit: %)

Estimated import value of fruits and vegetables in September 2017 reached US$135 million, bringing the total import value for the first nine months of 2017 to US$1.15 billion, a 78.2% increase compared to the same period in 2016. Of this, vegetable imports are estimated at US$218 million, a 30.1% increase compared to the same period in 2016, and fruit imports reached US$914 million, nearly double the figure for the same period in 2016.

The largest import market for fruits and vegetables in the first eight months of 2017 was Thailand (accounting for 60.7% of the market share), followed by China (accounting for 15.7%). In the first eight months of 2017, the value of fruit and vegetable imports increased in all markets compared to the same period in 2016. The markets with the largest increases in fruit and vegetable imports were Thailand (more than 2.8 times), followed by India (more than 2.2 times) and South Korea (up 70.8%).

Growth rate of some fruit and vegetable import markets to Vietnam in the first 8 months of the year (Unit: %)

In September 2017, amidst the durian price surge in the Central Highlands provinces, many small traders readily invested in orchards to purchase both unripe and ripe durians. In Krong Pak district (Dak Lak province), some high-quality durians were purchased at 54,000 VND/kg – a record price for many years.

Simultaneously, the price of dried coconuts in Tra Vinh province continued to rise, reaching 150,000 VND per dozen (12 coconuts) at the farm gate. This was the highest price for dried coconuts in the past six years, bringing in approximately 15 million VND per month for each hectare of coconut plantation.

Meanwhile, the vegetable market in Lam Dong remained relatively stable, with only a few vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach experiencing slight decreases of 2,000-3,000 VND/kg compared to the beginning of the month.

Looking back at the first nine months of the year, the fruit market experienced erratic fluctuations due to the seasonal nature of each type of fruit. Meanwhile, the vegetable market was affected by the weather, especially recent storms, which reduced supply and caused a sharp increase in July and August; however, the market is now showing signs of recovery.