Exports of a type of leaf have unexpectedly surged.
Fruit and vegetable exports are a bright spot for the agricultural sector, with a strong increase in value. Notably, exports of bay leaves surged by 5,083.3% in February 2023.
According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, as of the end of March this year, fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to have reached 935 million USD, an increase of 10.6% compared to the same period in 2022. This is one of the few product groups in the agricultural sector that recorded positive growth amidst high global inflation causing many key export items to plummet.
Regarding the types of fruits and vegetables exported in the first two months of this year, statistics show that the export of leafy vegetables increased by only 2.7% compared to the same period last year. However, February 2023 alone recorded an increase of 38.3% compared to February 2023.
Notably, bamboo leaf exports in February 2023 surged by 1,150% compared to February 2022. And up to the end of February this year, exports of this type of leaf increased by 302.4% compared to the same period last year.
Exports of bay leaves recorded a record increase of 5,083.3% (almost 52 times) in February 2023 compared to February last year. Cumulatively, bay leaf exports in the first two months of this year increased by 906% compared to the same period in 2022.
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| Bay leaves emit a gentle, pleasant aroma that helps relieve fatigue and stress. These leaves are also used as a spice in cooking. (Photo: IT) |
Similarly, fruit and vegetable exports in the first two months of 2023 increased by 7.7% compared to the same period in 2022. Notably, in February 2023, some fruits saw a dramatic increase in export value compared to the same period, such as durian (up 589%), jackfruit (up 150%), watermelon (up nearly 123%), and mango (up 59.8%).
In the first two months of this year, processed fruit and vegetable products increased by 23.3% compared to the same period last year. In February 2023 alone, processed passion fruit exports increased by 238%, pistachios by 298.6%, mangoes by 93.3%, and coconuts by 40.9%...
Exports of vegetables and flowers in February also increased by 40% and 38.3% respectively compared to February 2022. However, by the end of February this year, the export value of these two items had only increased by 4.7% and 15.1% compared to the same period in 2022.
