The Southeast Asian country gained US$4.2 billion from exporting fruits and vegetables in the first nine months, representing a year-on-year increase of 71.8 percent, reported the ministry.

Durian played a pivotal role in the above achievement, contributing up to US$1.28 billion to the overall export value, up 708.4 percent against the same period last year.

In August alone, China imported US$266.3 million of fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam, posting a year-on-year increase of 186.3 percent. In January-August, export of fruits and vegetables to China was estimated to at US$2.3 billion, up 134 percent year-on-year.

The export of fruits and vegetables to other markets including South Korea, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, were also positive.

Last year’s export turnover of fruits and vegetable stood at US$3.16 billion.