Vietnam achieved considerable growth in fruit and nut exports to demanding markets despite a downward trend in the Chinese market, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

The ministry reported that Vietnam’s fruit and nut exports in December 2020 alone recorded an increase of 3.3% to US$175 million in comparison to November, but a fall of 24.4% against December 2019.

Fruit and nuts are among the key farm produce for export, with their export value accounting for 67.5% of the country’s total exports of fruit and vegetables.  

However, China, Vietnam’s largest commodity consumer, lowered fruit and nut imports in 2020 after it enforced stricter regulations with regard to origin traceability, food hygiene, and safety due to COVID-19.

In contrast, fruit and nut exports to some markets such as Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Taiwan (China), and Japan, witnessed a sharp increase during the January-November 2020 period. Yet, the export proportion to these markets remains low compared to their import demand.

The sharp increase recorded in the export of fruit and nuts in high-end markets such as Japan, Australia, the RoK, and the EU has opened up prospects for the products to penetrate other markets globally, said the MoIT.

The MoIT has advised businesses to improve product quality, enhance origin traceability and diversify export markets as Vietnam has the chance to increase the export of various types of tropical fruit such as dragon fruit, mangoes, watermelons, bananas, longan, litchi and jackfruit.