Vietnams fruits, vegetables entering strict markets

Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are drawing significant interests from strict markets like the Unites States, Japan and Australia, opening opportunities for the products to sharply increase exports.

Vietnam’s fruits draw interest of American and Japanese consumers

After the first consignment of star-apples to the United States in December 2017, a further 134 shipments weighing around 230 tons was shipped to the profitable market last month.

The United States also opened the door to Vietnamese mangoes late last year with the first mangoes expected to enter the market next month. 

Fresh longans are likely to be granted an import license for Australia in early 2019.

At present, Vietnam also successfully exports red dragon fruit, mango, lychee, perilla leaves and parsley to the Japanese market. 

Export turnover of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to Japan gained US$ 10.6 million in January, increasing sharply by 77.5 percent year-on-year.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, although the growth rate of fruit and vegetable export to Japan is high, the export turnover is still lower than the consumption demand of this market. In 2017, the import turnover of Japan was $9.5 billion, up by 2 percent over 2016. In which, the import turnover from Vietnam was only $132.5 million, up by 5.2 percent over 2016.

Experts said that it is a good sign that Vietnamese fruit and vegetables are gaining a foothold in more stringent markets which require primary quality and the profile of products. They therefore urge local producers and exporters to promote the products’ exports to the markets.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as the markets require strict standards and quality of goods, hygiene and food safety, Vietnamese exporters must meet the stringent requirements in order to boost the exports to the markets.

In the production process, it said, enterprises must have raw material areas of which codes have been granted by the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and follow the food safety assurance process.

Besides, agricultural experts say it is essential for businesses to carefully study customs, market tastes, build brands, and supply high added value products with traceable origins.

According to Nguyen Huu Dat, General Secretary of Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, to have sustainability in vegetable and fruit exports, the agricultural sector must have large-scale production and individual households must join co-operatives. 

He emphasized that it would be easier to improve quality and produce greater quantities of the same products with large-scale co-operatives, ensuring food safety and competitiveness in the global market.

He added that the agricultural sector must develop associations in the production chain, ranging from the supply of seeds, cultivation, purchasing, and processing to export. 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Thanh Nam, also said the agricultural sector should promote co-operation in production between enterprises and co-operatives, wherein the co-operatives would take up land and partner with enterprises to ensure a stable supply of raw materials for businesses.

He said the region needs mechanisms and policies to ensure the quality and safety of raw materials for export as well as domestic consumption.

Vietnam has a favorable climate and land to grow different kinds of fruits, so localities having these advantages must have development plans in place and support enterprises in developing raw materials for the export of fruits, Nam said. 

Fruit and vegetables are among the agricultural products seeing the highest export growth since the beginning of the year. Despite a long Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in February, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in the month still rose to US$220 million, up 18 percent year-on-year, raising the two-month export value to $604 million, up 43.4 percent year-on-year.