Addressing a conference in Hanoi on December 27, Nguyen Thanh Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), emphasised that fruit and vegetables exports reached a record high of US$7.2 billion this year with various products penetrating into more than 60 countries worldwide.

Currently, Vietnam has seen many key export products such as mangoes, bananas, and durian make inroads into China, the world's largest fruit and vegetable market.

Most notably, the number of the products that are exported via official channels has been increasing. China has granted export licenses for 15 Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products, of which durians, bananas, and coconuts are all witnessing positive growth.

Along with the Chinese market, Vietnamese fruit and vegetables have penetrated many other markets such as the United States, with export growth exceeding 30%, and Thailand with over 80%.

Binh noted that there remains ample room ahead for the Vietnamese fruit and vegetables industry to expand the market and increase exports as the country has signed 16 new-generation free trade agreements.

However, Binh underlined the need to compile complete standards for quality control as a means of boosting exports, maintaining consumer reputation, and building a brand for the fruit and vegetables industry in the near future.

He outlined that although the industry has issued some general standards, such as humidity, scratches, and roughness, they have not been fully developed for products with a high economic value such as durians, dragon fruit, and bananas.

He therefore underscored the importance of developing and promulgating standards on fruit and vegetable quality, which in turn will serve as the premise for relevant ministries to confidently continue negotiating to further expand markets moving forward.