The largest market for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first 9 months of 2024, the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached 46,28 billion USD, an increase of 21%. Among the 3 largest export markets of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, China currently ranks 2nd and accounts for 20,8% of the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products of Vietnam.

However, for some agricultural products of Vietnam, including vegetables in general and fruits in particular, for many years now China has been in the top position among export markets.

In 2023, fruit and vegetable exports to the Chinese market will reach more than 3,6 billion USD, accounting for 65% of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export turnover. In the first 8 months of 2024, fruit and vegetable exports to China reached 3 billion USD, nearly equal to the export turnover to this market in the whole year of 2023.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu – Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – assessed that Vietnamese fruits have great potential in the Chinese market. Our strengths are the quality and unique flavors of tropical fruits, grown in the specific climate and soil conditions of Vietnam. Many types of fruits such as durian, mango, dragon fruit, lychee, longan, banana, etc. have long been favored by Chinese consumers.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries that share thousands of kilometers of border. The Vietnamese and Chinese people have similarities in culture and lifestyle.

China is a vast, open market with diverse needs. Vietnam is a country with favorable natural conditions for the production of tropical specialty fruits. Chinese consumers are familiar with Vietnamese fruits such as: durian, dragon fruit, banana, mango, jackfruit, lychee, longan, rambutan, mangosteen, star apple, etc.

“With great potential and high growth rate in production Agriculture, Vietnam is confident that it can meet the huge and diverse demands of Chinese market present and future”, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh said.

Fruit and vegetable exports to China are forecast to earn $5 billion this year.

With a population of 1,4 billion people, China is now the largest fruit import market. worldIn 2023, China imported nearly 8 million tons of various fruits, worth 17 billion USD. Among the countries exporting the most fruits and vegetables to China, Vietnam is currently only behind Thailand and Canada.

However, currently, Vietnamese fruits are mainly exported to southern Chinese provinces such as Guangdong, Guangxi or Yunnan. Therefore, there is a large market in northern China that is opening up great opportunities for Vietnamese fruits.

Fruit and vegetable exports to the Chinese market are forecast to reach between 4,5 and 5 billion USD in 2024. Durian exports alone are estimated to have exceeded 9 billion USD by the end of September 2024, and are expected to reach more than 2,5 billion USD by the end of 3.

With the current growth trend and increasing consumption demand of the Chinese market, industry experts have predicted that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have the potential to reach the export milestone of 10 billion USD in the future.

This growth was supported by the expansion of the list of fruits allowed for official export to China, as well as the development of processed products such as frozen and dried durian.

However, to seize market opportunities, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu said that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables need to overcome the weaknesses of uneven quality as well as unstable output to meet the needs of large importers and distributors in China. In addition, it is necessary to promote official commercial exports for sustainable development and increased export value.

"If Vietnamese fruits can be brought to the North of China, fruit exports to this market will grow even stronger." Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu said.

Experts also believe that in order to have sustainable development in this market, the most important thing is that we must create and bring the true values of Vietnamese fruits to Chinese consumers. Product quality, unique flavors, and food safety and hygiene are the core values that we need to focus on developing and maintaining. When Chinese consumers are aware of these values, they will become loyal customers, creating a solid foundation for the long-term development of the Vietnamese fruit industry.

Promoting agricultural trade between the two countries

To promote agricultural trade between the two countries in the coming time, Mr. Tran Thanh Nam - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - suggested that relevant agencies of the two countries continue to strengthen coordination in removing barriers and opening up agricultural markets, especially agencies of the General Administration of Customs of China to expand agricultural, forestry and fishery products, especially Vietnamese specialty fruits, to be introduced and consumed in the Chinese market.

Associations, businesses and investors of the two countries need to strengthen cooperation and linkage to expand markets, develop sustainable agricultural product chains for export, and expand investment in export-serving fields such as: trade promotion, logistics, wholesale markets, cold storage chains, preservation, processing and breeding.

The trade and agricultural agencies of the two countries will strengthen coordination with localities, associations, and businesses to continue organizing agricultural product trade festivals in many other potential localities and regions of China in the coming time.

At the 13th meeting of the Vietnam-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee held on September 29, 9, the "commander of the industry" of Industry and Trade, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also proposed 2024 new solutions to promote and further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations between Vietnam and China.

first, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized the need to ensure a smooth supply chain. The two sides should strengthen cooperation, ensure smooth customs clearance at border gates; coordinate in the classification of goods for customs clearance, notify each other in advance of customs clearance information for electromechanical products, agricultural and aquatic products, fruits and other goods, etc.

Monday, complete border gate infrastructure. The two sides promote the opening of new locations designated for customs supervision of fruits, agricultural products, and food at qualified road and railway border gates; speed up the completion of procedures, and soon start construction of the border bridge at Ban Vuoc (Lao Cai) – Ba Sai (Hekou); soon organize the ceremony to announce the upgrading of the Ma Lu Thang (Vietnam) – Kim Thuy Ha (China) border gate pair to international border gates…

Tuesday, promoting the opening of agricultural markets. Vietnam proposed that the host country continue to promote the opening of markets for Vietnamese agricultural products, including citrus fruits, avocados, custard-apples, rose apples, and cardamom, and promptly complete the signing of the Protocol on quarantine requirements for some fruits that have been traditionally exported.

Wednesday, promote the exploitation of railway container routes. Accordingly, it is proposed to jointly direct and orient relevant agencies of both sides to increase information dissemination and guide businesses to take advantage of the Vietnam - China railway container transport route.

Thursday, research new model to implement cross-border economic cooperation zone

Friday, promote the establishment of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Office in China.

Responding to Vietnam's proposals, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said he would continue to promote support for many other Vietnamese export goods to the Chinese market.

Up to now, Vietnam has had 12 types of Vietnamese fruits officially exported to the Chinese market. Currently, Vietnam has 2.350 growing areas that have been granted export codes to China. Vietnamese fruits are not only wonderful gifts from nature, but also ambassadors of Vietnamese agricultural products, imbued with Vietnamese culture.

With the efforts of Vietnamese and Chinese authorities, and the proactive adaptation of Vietnamese producers, processors and enterprises, Vietnam is confident that it can meet the huge and diverse demands of the current and future Chinese market. The great potential in agricultural trade relations in general, and vegetables and fruits in particular, between Vietnam and China will be exploited and increased significantly in the coming years.

Source: Vietnam.vn