07 June 2023

In the first 4 months of 2023, durian export value reached 190.5 million USD, up 573.1% over the same period in 2022. Of which, China accounted for 84.3% of the total export value.

The Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) quoted data from the General Department of Customs as saying, it is estimated that the export value of Vietnam's vegetables and fruits in May 2023 will reach 600 million USD. An increase of 53.3% compared to April 2023 and an increase of 137.7% compared to May 2022.

Generally, in the first 5 months of 2023, the export value of vegetables and fruits is estimated at 1.97 billion USD, up 39% compared to the same period in 2022. While many agricultural products show signs of export decline, the commodity sector alone vegetables and fruits continued to record positive export growth.

Most of the exported fruits and vegetables recorded good growth rates in the first 4 months of 2023. Leading in terms of export value was the fruit category with $920.7 million, up 15.7% over the same period. period 2022.

In the structure of main export fruits, only dragon fruit and banana have a decrease in value in the first 4 months of 2023.

Meanwhile, the export value of durian fruit increased sharply, reaching 190.5 million USD, up 573.1% over the same period in 2022. Durian fruit was mainly exported to the Chinese market, with a value of accounting for 84.3% of the total export value of durian.

Notably, after Vietnam and China signed the Protocol to export durian officially, durian fruit has been promoted to the Chinese market.

Regarding durian products, according to statistics of Lang Son Customs Department, on May 30, the functional force at Huu Nghi International Border Gate completed customs clearance procedures for 1,601 main export durian shipments. turnover to China, equivalent to nearly 60,000 tons. In particular, in May alone, the output of durian exported through Huu Nghi International Border Gate reached more than 17,500 tons.

According to the Vietnam Trade Promotion Office in Chongqing (China), dragon fruit, banana, durian, mango... are the main fruits that Trung Khanh imports from Vietnam. In 2022, the import turnover of dragon fruit from Vietnam will reach 20 million USD; other fruits reached over 2.8 million USD. In the first quarter of 2023, the import turnover of fruits from Vietnam is as follows: Durian reached more than 26 million USD; dragon fruit reached nearly 8.9 million USD; bananas reached 101 thousand USD.

Mr. Hung Tien Quan - Deputy Director of Kunming Customs Department (China) - said that from June 1, Kunming Customs and the Vietnamese side started implementing a mechanism to exchange samples of quarantine certificates and recognize each other. In the immediate future, the product is limited to durian fruit. In addition, in the near future, this unit will apply measures to reduce customs clearance time such as: health declaration, terminal goods, payment via QR Code... This will create favorable conditions for the clearance of durian.

Up to now, Vietnam has 293 durian growing areas and 115 packing facilities that have been granted official export codes by China to this market.

In 2022, China imported more than 820,000 tons of durian, of which, imported about 780,000 tons of durian from Thailand. It is forecasted that durian imports this year will easily reach or exceed 900,000 tons. Durian imports from Thailand are forecast to increase this year, but the market share of Vietnamese durian in China will also explode.

"With increased demand from the Chinese market, Vietnam's durian export may reach $1 billion this year and enter the group of billion-dollar agricultural exports," said Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association forecast.

While Thai durian is quite expensive, the taste is delicious and rich. Vietnamese durian has the advantage of abundant output, scattered harvest all year round. Shipping time to China is also faster than Thailand, just over 1 day and is quickly being accepted by the Chinese market thanks to its cheaper price.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will further facilitate durian import and export activities in the future. With this Agreement, many countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam can become large durian suppliers to China.

In order to compete in the Chinese market, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen said that Vietnamese durian must focus on investing in improving quality, design as well as branding.

In addition to signing the official durian export protocol, Vietnam and China also signed the protocol with mangosteen and banana varieties. In addition, Vietnam is negotiating to sign a protocol with China on fruits such as dragon fruit, watermelon, litchi, longan, rambutan, and mango.

At the same time, it is suggested that the Chinese side open more doors for other Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products such as green-skinned pomelo, fresh coconut, avocado, lemon, pineapple, and milkweed. This is an opportunity to promote the export of fruits of Vietnam.

Particularly for export processing products, the Import-Export Department added, in the first four months of 2023, Vietnam's exports reached 356.4 million USD, up 22.9% over the same period in 2022. The category of processed products has always maintained a good growth rate, even in the context of the fruit and vegetable industry's decline in 2022.

This is a species with great export potential, because currently the dietary needs of people around the world are increasing using processed fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the Import-Export Department recommends that exporters should focus on exploiting this segment, contributing to increasing the export value of the fruit and vegetable industry in the coming time.

Source: congthuong.vn