VIETNAM FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS HIT RECORD

Durian remains the main driver among Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports - PHOTO: ARCHIVES

HCMC – Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports have reached a record high of more than US$8.5 billion in 2025, driven largely by durian shipments and a strong recovery in demand from China.

According to estimates from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), export revenue in December 2025 is about US$795 million, lifting full-year exports to above US$8.5 billion, the highest level ever recorded for the sector.

Growth was led by six key fruits: durian, banana, mango, jackfruit, coconut and pomelo. Among them, durian remained the main driver, particularly in China, where consumption rose sharply and accounted for a large share of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports.

China continued to be Vietnam’s largest market, absorbing about 64% of total shipments. In the first 11 months of 2025, exports to China amounted to nearly US$5 billion, up around 15% year on year and already surpassing the full-year record of US$4.63 billion set in 2024.

Exports faced difficulties in the early months of the year, especially for durian, as China tightened inspections on residues of auramine O and cadmium. Shipments began to recover from June after technical issues were resolved through coordination between authorities from both countries.

The signing of export protocols for products such as bananas, coconuts and passion fruit has also opened additional opportunities for Vietnamese fruit to expand further into the Chinese market.

Beyond China, exports to the U.S. posted strong growth. Despite the impact of tariff policies, fruit and vegetable shipments to the U.S. reached nearly US$500 million in the first 11 months, up 56% from a year earlier.

By contrast, exports to South Korea edged down 1.7% to US$284.2 million. Other markets, including Japan, Taiwan and the Netherlands, each maintained export values above US$100 million.

To meet increasingly strict import requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has launched a pilot traceability program for durian. The pilot phase will run from January 1 to June 30, 2026.

The program aims to build a unified traceability system covering the entire supply chain, from production and procurement to processing, packaging, transport and distribution. Products will be labeled with QR codes or authenticated using technologies such as NFC and RFID to enable real-time information tracking.

Source: The Saigon Times