Fruit and vegetable exports in the first seven months of the year were worth an estimated US$781 million, up 28.8 per cent over the same period last year.— Photo dddn.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Fruit and vegetable exports in the first seven months of the year were worth an estimated US$781 million, up 28.8 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetables Association.

They were sold to more than 50 nations and territories, with China, Japan, South Korea, and the US being the main buyers.

China continued to be the biggest market, accounting for 31.8 per cent of the exports in the first half, Nguyen Van Ky, general secretary of Vinafruit, said.

Vietnamese exporters have started to use advanced preservation methods like irradiation in recent years to satisfy demanding markets like Japan and the US, the association said.

With importing countries tending to increase their quality, hygiene, and food safety requirements, the sector has no choice but to apply Good Agricultural Practices, it said.

Viet Nam's varied geographic and climatic conditions mean it grows a diverse range of fruits and vegetables.

Global fruit demand is expected to continue rising in the coming years, giving the country an opportunity to boost exports, the association said.

Exports are expected to fetch $1.2 billion this year compared to $1.04 billion last year, it said.

Imports

The country also imported fruits and vegetables worth $313 million in the first seven months, a year-on-year increase of 41.6 per cent, the association said.

Thailand, China, Myanmar, and the US were the main suppliers, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. — VNS