Vietnam's turnover from fresh produce exports jumped 35.6 per cent year-on-year to US$960m in the first quarter of 2018, up 8.3 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, according to customs statistics quoted by producereport.com.
This marks the largest value increase in the history of Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit industry, the report said.
In response to these figures, Vietnam's vice minister of agriculture and rural development said that a target of US$4.5bn for fruit and vegetable exports in 2018 is attainable.In 2017, Vietnam's produce exports were valued at a record US$3.45bn.
By early April 2018, Vietnamese vegetables and fruits were sold to 60 countries around the world, with China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Russia topping the bill, the report said.
China remains Vietnam's largest market, absorbing US$2.744bn-worth of exports, up more than 37.4-fold since 2010, according to producereport.com.
In 2017, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China approved four new ports on the China-Vietnam border for fruit imports, the report said.
Guangxi Province has seven designated ports with Vietnam. In addition, Guangxi grants concessionary loans for Vietnam dragon fruit, longan and mangosteen imports.
China also wants to work with Vietnam to create a green channel for imports and exports by implementing a policy of mutual recognition of inspection for Chinese apples, Chinese oranges, Vietnamese watermelons and dragon fruit, according to producereport.com.
