Friday, 19/04/2024 16:15 (GMT+7)
Fruit and vegetable exports to major markets in the first three months of the year recorded high growth. The Korean and Thai markets had a sudden increase, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit).
A quick report from Vinafruit showed that fruit and vegetable export turnover in March was estimated at nearly 470 million USD, up 44.3% over the previous month and up 12.4% over the same period last year.
In the first quarter of 2024, exports of the commodity totaled nearly 1.3 billion USD, an increase of 30.8% over the same period in 2023. This is the first time in history vegetable exports bagged over 1 billion USD in the first quarter.
The main export markets of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables such as China, the Republic of Korea, the US, Thailand and Japan all recorded high growth. China took the lead with 759.4 million USD, up 32.4% over the same period in 2023. It was followed by the RoK with 74.6 million USD, up 59.3%; the US, 67.7 million USD, up 33.9%; and Thailand, 47.6 million USD, up 112%.
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| Durian exports rose sharply, contributing to bringing export value of fruit and vegetable in the first quarter to over 1 billion USD. (Photo: congthuong.vn) |
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, Vinafruit General Secretary, said that the results came from the contribution of durian and dragon fruit in off-season. Along with that, in the Korean market, geopolitical conflicts and influences from the Red Sea caused fruit sources from South America and the Middle East exported to the RoK to be interrupted.
Increase in freight costs and long shipping times have caused a shortage of fruit and vegetable supply in the RoK. Therefore, the country has increased the import of fruits and vegetables from Vietnam to compensate for this shortfall.
“Freight costs doubled, shipping time increased to 40 days instead of 25 days as before, making it difficult to import vegetables and fruits from South America and the Middle East. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to increase exports to the RoK,” Nguyen added./.
BTA