Exports of vegetables and fruits in January this year soared 63.3 per cent year-on-year in turnover to reach US$383.7 million, statistics from the General Department of Customs showed. — Photo sggp.org.vn

Exports of vegetables and fruits in January this year soared 63.3 per cent year-on-year in turnover to reach US$383.7 million, statistics from the General Department of Customs showed.

Of these, export turnover of vegetables and fruits to the Chinese market hit $296.3 million, up 68.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, accounting for 77 per cent of the total export revenue of Viet Nam.

Exports to the Hong Kong market increased 105 per cent, hitting $1.85 million. Exports to Japan reached $10.6 million, soaring 77.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Despite the high growth rate of vegetables and fruit exports to the Japanese market, export turnover is still low compared to the current consumption demand in Japan.

According to experts, to boost exports of vegetables and fruits to Japan, Vietnamese enterprises should meet the demands of the market, such as sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

Hoang Trung, head of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, told Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) that there were big opportunities in the sector, however, to promote advantages in exports and access markets with high economic value, businesses and farmers should pay attention to the two issues of pest and food safety.

“To expand markets, two key barriers should be solved, which are phytosanitary and food safety, especially residues of plant protection substances on vegetable and fruit products,” said Trung.

A business in Tien Giang Province also told the newspaper that export turnover reflected the real situation as some vegetables had short growth periods and already had outputs so farmers had expanded planting areas to plentiful raw materials enterprises. Enterprises are increasing investment in high technology in processing and export markets, therefore the growth rate of the sector is positive.

The country’s vegetable and fruit sector is creating prestige in export markets. “It is too early to say that this year’s export turnover of vegetables and fruits will surpass last year’s goal, but with a favourable starting point besides market share growth in key markets, it can be said that the goal set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade is within reach,” the business said.

However, exports of vegetables and fruits dependent on the Chinese market may be risky.

Tran Hiep, a general director of a vegetable and fruit export business in Tien Giang Province, said that China was still a large market of Viet Nam as it was a neighbouring country which has significant demand towards Vietnamese vegetables and fruits. However, the market hides risks, but with high quality in production and process, along with export experiences of Vietnamese enterprises, the problem is not a big concern.

“China is a big market but if we have knowledge and experience, as well as having built trust among customers, we will gain other markets besides China,” he said. — VNS