Fruit and vegetable exports have seen spectacular growth.
Fruits and vegetables, once a modest export item, are emerging as one of Vietnam's key agricultural export sectors.
Breaking into demanding markets
On September 21st, the first fresh mangoes from Vietnam arrived in Australia, being sold in several stores and supermarkets in Perth, Western Australia. This represents a significant effort by Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry after seven years of negotiations with Australia. Mangoes are also the second Vietnamese fruit, after lychees, to be granted import permission by Australia.
"Agricultural products with export advantages"
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| Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have seen remarkable growth in exports. (Image: Internet) |
To enable the mango shipment to reach this demanding market, Agricare Company had to collaborate with farmers in Dong Thap province months in advance to cultivate the mangoes according to VietGAP standards, complying with Australian regulations. This is because mangoes, or any fresh fruit exported to Australia, must meet extremely strict conditions regarding growing areas, packaging specifications, plant quarantine and food safety, irradiation, and transportation processes.
Previously, in August 2016, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed allowing fresh Vietnamese mangoes to be imported into the US market. With this move, it can be almost certainly confirmed that fresh mangoes will be the sixth Vietnamese fruit allowed to be imported and consumed in the US market from the end of this year, after dragon fruit, rambutan, lychee, longan, and star apple.
Mr. Tran Van Tu, owner of a mango orchard in Binh Quoi hamlet, Binh Phuoc Xuan commune (Cho Moi district, An Giang province), bags the mangoes to achieve the yellow skin color required by importers. Photo: Hong Nhung - VNA. |
According to Mr. Dao Tran Nhan, Vietnam's Commercial Counselor in the US: "To gain a foothold in this potentially lucrative but very demanding market, Vietnamese fresh mangoes must meet the stringent standards of the US control system, including regulations on orchards, irradiation treatment, and customs inspection at the port of arrival. In addition, fresh mangoes from Vietnam must have a food safety and hygiene certification from the Vietnam Plant Protection Department."
The above examples show that, in addition to traditional markets, in recent years, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry has accessed demanding markets requiring high quality, such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Just since the beginning of this year, Vietnamese lychees and mangoes have reached the Australian and US markets.
According to agricultural experts, opening up access to demanding markets such as the US, Australia, and the EU will bring "double benefits" to Vietnamese agriculture. It will help farmers change their habits and production methods, shifting from growing what they have to growing what the market demands, and freeing the fruit and vegetable industry from dependence on a single market as before.
For the first time, we will surpass the rice market.
In fact, over the past 10 years, the export of fruits and vegetables in general, and especially fruit, has seen "dramatic" growth. According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, from June 2016 to the present, the export growth rate of the fruit and vegetable sector has been very good, averaging 37% per month. In 2016, it is likely that the export value of fruits and vegetables will surpass that of rice for the first time, reaching approximately 2.5 - 2.6 billion USD, becoming one of the key export items of Vietnam's agricultural sector.
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| Vietnamese fruits are expanding into many "demanding" markets - Internet image |
According to agricultural experts, the export potential for fruits and vegetables is still very large. The global market for processed fruits and vegetables reached approximately US$203 billion in 2014 and had a growth rate of 7.9% per year. It is projected that by 2020, the processed fruit and vegetable market will reach US$319 billion.
To further expand export markets and the range of fruit exports, Vietnam will continue to promote more key products to these markets. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam stated: “Australia’s opening its market to another fresh fruit from Vietnam opens up many hopes for the cultivation and export of Vietnam’s strong fruit crops. Following mangoes, Vietnam will promote the export of dragon fruit to Australia.”
Mr. Le Son Ha, Head of the Quarantine Department, Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “The Department will study the requirements of various markets, especially those with high consumption demand and high value. At the same time, we will also pay attention to potential markets in the ASEAN region and China, as each market will have different requirements.”
| In 2005, Vietnamese fruits and vegetables were present in 36 countries and territories worldwide, achieving an export value of over 235 million USD. Ten years later, the number of markets penetrated increased to more than 60 countries and territories, with export value exceeding 1.8 billion USD, a 123% increase compared to 2014 and a 782% increase compared to 2005. Notably, in the first eight months of 2016, the country's fruit and vegetable export value reached 1.7 billion USD, a 130% increase compared to the same period last year. |
According to baotintuc
