Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam’s Fruit Export Surge in 2025
In the early months of 2025, Vina T&T Group’s CEO, Nguyen Dinh Tung, shared that the company exports 320 tons of durian and 500 tons of coconut monthly. Additionally, they ship 3-4 containers of longan weekly, each weighing 16 tons, and 7-9 containers of dragonfruit.
Nguyen highlighted how Vietnamese exporters are capitalizing on the growing demand for tropical fruits in the Chinese market, effectively boosting exports of coconut, longan, pomelo, and mango to various international markets. This strategy has resulted in consistent orders and increased revenue.
Vina T&T reported a significant growth in revenue for 2024, reaching VND2 trillion, marking a remarkable 30 percent increase compared to the previous year.
According to data from the General Department of Customs, after achieving a record $3.81 billion in vegetable and fruit exports in 2018, subsequent years saw a decline, with revenues dropping to $3.26 billion in 2020 and $3.36 billion in 2022.
The tide turned in 2023, however, as Vietnam’s agricultural exports surged to $5.7 billion, surpassing both the previous year’s revenue and the 2018 record.
Continuing the upward trajectory, 2024 saw exports climb to $7.15 billion, a historic high, effectively doubling the 2018 figures.
Market Expansion and Challenges
Nguyen Thanh Binh, chair of the Vietnam Veggie and Fruit Association, noted that Vietnamese produce now reaches 60 markets globally, positioning the country as the second largest exporter of mangoes, bananas, and durians to China, the leading fruit consumer worldwide.
Vietnam’s market shares for vegetables and fruits have been expanding. In China, Vietnam advanced from third to second place, with exports to the U.S. rising by 30 percent and an astounding 80 percent increase to Thailand.
Binh attributes the notable rise in fruit exports to successful market exploration efforts.
Before 2018, the vegetable and fruit sector thrived with consistent export growth, primarily involving cross-border transportation. However, when countries implemented stricter import regulations and China tightened cross-border trade, Vietnam’s fruit exports faced challenges and delays.
Fortunately, recent government initiatives have opened up multiple export channels for Vietnamese produce, including durian, passion fruit, coconut, pomelo, and bananas, enhancing official export opportunities.
Durian Dominance and Future Goals
Vietnam’s durian exports, once considered low-value, experienced a rapid rise after the trade protocol was established with China in mid-2022. By 2024, durian exports surged to $3.3 billion, up $1 billion from the previous year, comprising nearly 50 percent of total vegetable and fruit export revenues.
Durian consistently commands high prices, yielding substantial profits—farmers can earn up to VND1 billion per hectare, with some households reporting profits of VND50 billion in a single harvest.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) aims for vegetable and fruit exports to reach $5 billion by 2025 and $6.5 billion by 2030. However, the 2024 export figures surpassed the $6.5 billion target, leading experts to predict potential revenues of $8 billion in 2025 and even $10 billion in the near future.
Nguyen Khac Tien, Chair of Ameii Vietnam JSC, emphasized that 2023 marked a pivotal year for Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports, with vast potential for accessing new markets.
Currently, Vietnam cultivates 1.2 million hectares of fruit, yielding 12 million tons annually. However, it’s worth noting that the majority of exports consist of fresh fruits, with processed fruit accounting for just 14 percent ($1 billion). The rising consumer demand for processed fruits suggests a lucrative market that Vietnam should focus on.
