Fruit, vegetable exports see high potential, tough requirements
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Vietnamese vegetables and fruits are eyeing potential overseas markets, in which quality requirements and standards are high, said experts at a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on March 1.
Nguyen Minh Phuong, Director of the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that due to low supply and high demand, the Middle East and North Africa are also promising markets for Vietnamese farm produce.
However, experts underscored that the major challenge for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables is the increasing requirements in international market, especially those in origin traceability and food safety.
Pham Minh Thang from the Agrotrade said that Vietnamese firms have faced a lack of information on market demands and access to distribution channels in imported countries.
Meanwhile, the export of fresh vegetables to other markets is encountering obstacles due to transportation difficulties, while the rate of processed products remains modest.
In order to promote fruit and vegetable exports, Thang advised producers and exporters to actively renovate their farming techniques to increase their product quality, while strengthening processing and trade promotion activities, diversifying trading activities in digital platforms, and applying information technology in the sale of farm produce.
Le Thanh Hoa, Vice Director of the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (Agrotrade), said that over the recent years, fruits and vegetable have been among the groups with export revenue of over $3 billion each year. The figure reached $3.37 billion in 2022.
Last year, many kinds of fruits such as passion fruit, durian and banana were allowed to be exported to China through official channels, while Vietnamese pomelo was excepted to the U.S., limes and pomelos to New Zealand, and fresh longan to Japan.
In the first two months of this year, the export of fruits and vegetables hit $592 million, up 17.8% compared to the same period in 2022. China remained the major market of Vietnam, consuming 57.5% of the country’s total fruit and vegetable exports.
Questions & Answers
Q.What are the main challenges Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exporters currently face in international markets?
What are the main challenges Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exporters currently face in international markets?
Exporters face increasing requirements for origin traceability and food safety. They also lack information on market demands and access to distribution channels, with transportation difficulties for fresh produce and modest processed product rates.
Q.What advice has been given to Vietnamese producers to boost fruit and vegetable exports?
What advice has been given to Vietnamese producers to boost fruit and vegetable exports?
Producers are advised to renovate farming techniques to improve product quality. They should also strengthen processing and trade promotion, diversify digital platform trading, and apply information technology in sales.
Q.Which specific fruits recently gained access to new official export channels?
Which specific fruits recently gained access to new official export channels?
Last year, passion fruit, durian, and banana were approved for export to China through official channels. Vietnamese pomelo was accepted by the U.S., limes and pomelos by New Zealand, and fresh longan by Japan.
Q.How significant is China as an export market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables?
How significant is China as an export market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables?
China is Vietnam's major market for fruits and vegetables. It consumed 57.5% of the country's total fruit and vegetable exports in the first two months of this year.
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