In early June, France's Jeune Thanh Binh Co imported the first batch of lychees to France by air, opening more opportunities for other fruit exports as well, such as longan, mango and dragon fruit. — VNA/VNS Photo Quy Trung

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Fruit export turnover is expected to reach US$2 billion by the end of this year when businesses increase their exports, the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetable Association has said.

For export markets with strict guidelines, businesses are improving quality, including the use of irradiation technology or sulphur dioxide fumigation. They are also trying to overcome technical barriers of import markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said many choosy markets, such as the US and Australia, had allowed Vietnamese fruit exports, and Japan and Korea were expected to permit exports of some fruit.

Korea imports dragonfruit, and will begin to import mango and star apple from Viet Nam by the end of the year.

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued an import license for mango from Viet Nam's Dong Nai Province after a Japanese business delegation visited Dong Nai to survey orchards in Xuan Loc District.

Japan is the second largest import market of Vietnamese fruit, with a market share of 8 per cent, after China.

Viet Nam is now negotiating with Japan to export red-flesh dragonfruit. It now exports the white-flesh variety.

Viet Nam has completed procedures to export mangosteen and plums to China.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said Viet Nam's export value of fruits and vegetables had seen strong growth in recent years.

In 2009, fruit export turnover reached $439 million and increased to $1.1 billion in 2013 and $1.5 billion in last year.

In the first six months, fruit export turnover reached $700 million.

Good signs

Nguyen Xuan Nhi, director of Tropical Fruit Export Ltd Co said the company has had seniority in exporting rambutan and longan to Europe since 2013, and now has an import partner in the US.

Nhi said: "Many more kinds of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have approached strict export markets such as the US, Australia, the EU and Japan. This will be a driving force for local farmers to develop fruit gardens and expand growing areas."

In early June, France's Jeune Thanh Binh Co imported the first batch of lychees to France by air, opening more opportunities for other fruit exports as well, such as longan, mango and dragon fruit.

Jeune Thanh Binh Co has brought sulphur dioxide fumigation technology to Viet Nam under the support of French specialists. SO2 fumigated lychees can be fresh for up to five to six weeks.

According to the Vietnamese Commercial Office in Australia, from June 12 to 19, 17 tonnes of lychees were exported to Australia through Red Dragon Co, Anh Sao Duong Co, Fosti Co and Thien Anh Minh Co. —VNS