Vietnam earns 245 million USD from fruit and vegetable exports

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam earned 245 million USD from fruit and vegetable
exports in the first seven months of the year, down slightly by 0.2 percent
over the same period in 2008, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development.

“This light drop in context of the global recession is a good signal from the
country’s fruit and vegetable export industry,” a representative from the
ministry said.

In July only, the country’s fruit and vegetable export turnover was 35 million
USD, according the ministry.

In the first seven months of 2009, Russia was the country’s biggest market for
these goods, having bought about 9.77 percent of Vietnamese exported fruit and
vegtable, equivalent to 26 million USD.

The second largest market was China with an export turnover of 24.7 million USD
(about 9.59 percent). Japan was third with 7.49 percent.

According to the ministry, fruit and vegetable exports have seen positive signs
since June.

Demand for these goods from some key markets, especially the EU, has increased. Many
markets have high demand for processed vegetable and fruit export turnover in 2009
may reach 450 million USD, up by between 50 million USD and 60 million USD compared
with 2008. To reach this goal, industry experts have studied the ecological
conditions in different regions across the country to find the best locations for
certain crops.

Also, the industry will continue to study and improve the quality of fruit trees and
vegetables as well as modernise technology used to preserve exported fruit and
vegetable.

Industry experts will promote trade relations with foreign countries and
strengthen activities to expand the market, advertise trade marks and develop
traditional markets.

According to a report from the ministry, every year the country can harvest more
than 7 million tonnes of fruit from a total 680,000 ha.

The country’s most productive fruit trees in recent months have been plum in Lao
Cai province, oranges in Ha Giang, pomelo in Phu Tho, litchi in Bac Giang and longan
in Hung Yen.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development have worked to boost exports of these fruits.

Vietnamese fruit and vegetable are sold to 20 markets worldwide. Export turnover
increased from 334 million USD in 2001 to 390 million USD in 2008.

The industry’s main competitors are Thailand , China and the US.-Enditem