VIETNAM’S FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS HIT RECORD US$8.6 BILLION IN 2025

A durian farmer in the Mekong Delta region – PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH

HCMC – Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached a record US$8.6 billion in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of all-time highs, driven largely by durian and a shift toward stricter quality control and market compliance.

The result came despite mounting pressure early in the year. Major markets such as China and the EU tightened technical standards, while U.S. tariff policies remained uncertain. China’s stricter controls on residues of auramine O and cadmium disrupted durian exports, the sector’s largest revenue source, causing a sharp decline in export revenue in the first half of the year.

In response, exporters reviewed their entire supply chains, from growing areas and packing facilities to testing and traceability systems. Rather than expanding output, the industry shifted its focus to quality control and process standardization to meet higher market requirements.

Exports began to recover from June 2025 as durian shipments resumed. Growth accelerated between August and October during the peak harvest season in the Central Highlands, helping the sector regain momentum. Alongside durian, exports of bananas, mangoes and jackfruit posted steady gains, while pomelo and coconut emerged as new growth drivers.

Durian remained the backbone of the industry, generating an estimated US$4 billion in export revenue, up about US$800 million from 2024.

Market access played a key role in the sector’s performance. In 2025 alone, Vietnam and China signed five export protocols, including those covering passion fruit and fresh jackfruit. Fresh pomelo was also officially approved for export to Australia, a market known for strict technical standards.

China continued to be Vietnam’s largest and most strategic market, importing an estimated US$78 billion worth of fruit annually. Vietnam’s share remains below US$5 billion, highlighting significant growth potential.

Industry players are increasingly looking beyond durian. Bananas are seen as the next major growth segment. According to Pham Quoc Liem, chairman of U&I Agricultural JSC (Unifarm), the global banana market is projected to reach US$21 billion by 2030, while Vietnam’s banana exports currently stand at around US$380 million.

Vietnam’s average banana export value is less than US$2,500 per hectare per year. Raising this figure to US$25,000 per hectare, as achieved by some large-scale producers, could lift banana exports to US$3.8 billion in the future, Liem said.

Looking ahead, growth is expected to rely less on expanding acreage and more on improving quality, standardizing growing areas, strengthening traceability and promoting deep processing. If market discipline is maintained and key products such as durian, bananas, pomelo and coconut are developed through integrated value chains, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports could approach US$10 billion next year.

Source: The Saigon Times