Vietnam spends US$5.4 million a day importing fruit pre-Tet

Vietnam spent more than US$167 million on fruit imports in January, a year-on-year increase of 70%, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

It means that nearly US$5.4 million is being used to buy foreign fruit every day.

Thailand remained the leading supplier of fruit and vegetables to Vietnam with a value of nearly US$73 million in January, trailed by China with approximately US$39 million, and the US with about US$19 million.

Other markets such as the Republic of Korea and Australia were also popular suppliers of fruits like apples, pears, and kiwi for Vietnamese customers.

As an agricultural country, Vietnam has spent a lot of money on imports of fruit and vegetables over the past two years. The annual import value has increased from US$200 million to nearly US$1 billion.