As a country with strengths in the production and export of agricultural products, Thailand still spends nearly twice as much money to buy Vietnamese fruits and vegetables in the first half of this year. This is also the export market with the strongest growth rate of our country’s fruit and vegetable industry.
According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, by mid-July this year, our country’s fruit and vegetable exports have earned nearly 3.57 billion USD. As a result, fruits and vegetables have risen to be the 3rd largest export turnover in the agricultural sector, only after forest products and fisheries.
In terms of export markets, by the end of June 2024, China is still the largest customer, accounting for 64.9% of total export turnover with 2.16 billion USD, up 22% over the same period last year.
Next are South Korea and the United States, reaching $164 million and more than $157 million, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, fruit and vegetable exports to these two markets recorded impressive growth of 54.6% and 33.5%, respectively.
Notably, in the top 10 key fruit and vegetable export markets of Vietnam, exports to Thailand recorded the highest growth, up to 95.5% over the same period in 2023.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand is a country with strengths in fruit and vegetable production and export. Therefore, Thailand is also a direct competitor of Vietnam in exporting fruits and vegetables to the Chinese market. However, in the first half of this year, Thais spent 97 million USD to buy Vietnamese fruits and vegetables. This shows that the attraction of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products is increasing, not only in traditional markets but also in competitive markets.
The leader of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said that Thailand mainly imports durian from Vietnam. In the first months of this year, Thailand became the 2nd largest durian export market of our country, only after China.
The forecast for fruit and vegetable exports in the second half of this year of our country continues to be favorable thanks to seasonal factors and abundant supply. Meanwhile, the increasing demand of the world market helps our country’s export turnover of this commodity to reach or exceed 7 billion USD.
