Vietnam Tropical insights

Data from Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows that over the past three months, through the implementation of a series of quality control measures, the expansion of planting area codes, and proactive responses to Chinese technical barriers, Vietnam's durian exports have shown a strong rebound. Durian exports warm up In the first seven months of 2025, exports of many major fruits from Vietnam to China declined, including durian. However, from May to July, Vietnam exported 7745 batches of fresh durian, approximately 207,000 tons, an increase of over 9 times compared to the previous four months; frozen durian exports reached 560 batches, nearly 16,000 tons, an increase of over 64%. Cases of food safety violations have also significantly decreased. Deng Fuyuan, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that as of the end of July, durian exports had accumulated approximately $1.2 billion, although there is still a gap compared to ...

The green consumption trend has opened up significant opportunities for Vietnam as by-products such as passion fruit peel, pineapple leaves, etc., are becoming deeply involved in the global supply chain.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association stated that, with the current momentum and sufficient durian production from now until November, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's export target of 7.6 billion USD for this year is fully achievable, and it may even approach the 8 billion USD mark. In the first seven months of this year, fruit and vegetable exports reached 3.92 billion USD, a 0.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The robust growth in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports is attributed to the recovery of exports to the Chinese market. Besides durians, exports of processed coconuts, passion fruits, and mangoes, among other fruits and vegetables, have also shown significant growth, demonstrating the diversification of Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports. Nguyen Thanh Binh, President of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, stated that since May 2025, with the collaborative efforts of local governments, enterprises, and fruit farmers, durian exports have gradually recovered and resumed their growth momentum. To maintain and expand the market, particularly for high-value products like durians, Hoang Thanh Dat, Director of the Department of Planting and Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the department will map out cadmium-contaminated areas in planting zones. This is a crucial measure to ensure food safety, comply with international standards, and help Vietnam's durians penetrate high-end markets such as the European Union, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. While strengthening quality management in planting zones, enterprises are also proactively tightening control processes from procurement to packaging. In addition to durians, processed products such as coconuts, passion fruits, and mangoes are also maintaining positive growth momentum. Notably, although exports to China in the first half of the year decreased by 24.3% year-on-year, there was strong growth in other markets such as the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands. Specifically, fruit and vegetable exports to the United States in the first seven months of this year reached 216 million USD, a significant increase of 66%, the highest growth rate among the top 15 export markets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also emphasized that to achieve the 2025 export target of 7.6 billion USD, the fruit and vegetable industry needs to focus on market diversification and fully utilize the advantages brought by signed free trade agreements. In addition to fresh fruit exports, the industry needs to promote the export of processed products, especially coconut and mango products, to broaden growth space and reduce risks in the fresh fruit market. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is also pushing to leverage opportunities in potential markets such as the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. These markets are not only stable and have strong purchasing power but also have a strong demand for Vietnam's signature tropical fruits. In the context of increasingly fierce market competition and rising technical requirements, the Vietnam fruit and vegetable industry cannot achieve sustainable development solely by relying on production volume or price. Instead, building a high-quality supply chain, controlling food safety from the source, applying modern processing technologies, promoting market diversification, and creating strong brands are the keys to consolidating growth momentum and advancing further in the international market.