Fruit, veggie exports increase 10% this year to $500 million

HA NOI — It is expected that Viet Nam will earn US$500 million from the export of vegetables and fruit this year, an increase of 10 per cent over last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Products such as dragon fruit, pineapples, mangos, papayas, jackfruit, canned fruit and a variety of vegetables have been exported mainly to the US, the EU, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and mainland China, where imports are expected to increase following recent droughts and flooding.

During 2010, Viet Nam's vegetables and fruit exports to China accounted for 4 per cent of the northern country's import turnover.

Exports to more strict markets such as Japan, are expected to bring in around $60 million this year, accounting for 0.7 per cent of Japanese import turnover.

Viet Nam expects to collect an additional $70 million from its vegetables exports to Russia.

Regional markets such as Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia are estimated to import more from Viet Nam, and account for 10 per cent of the total export turnover of fruit and vegetable sector, MoIT said.

Trade experts have noted that, in order to achieve its predicted export turnover, Viet Nam should sufficiently support its farmers in pushing up production and implementing food safety and hygiene standards to penetrate foreign markets effectively.

August 4, 2011

Source: vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn