Vietnam's import of a number of product groups witnessed a significant decrease during the first seven months of the year, including fruit and vegetable imports, largely due to the negative impact caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Fruit and vegetable imports see a sharp drop over the seven-month period 

According to the report detailing the nation’s production, industry, and trade, compiled by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, fruit and vegetable imports witnessed a fall of 37.7% during the first seven months of the year.

Moreover, the country recorded a trade surplus of US$6.5 billion, far higher than the figure of US$1.98 billion seen during the same period last year.

Most notably, the report indicates a number of positive signs for the country's vegetable and fruit import market, with its export value reaching US$1.76 billion.

Despite the export of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable items to China suffering a sharp decline, exports to other markets, such as the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan, have enjoyed a significant increase.