Vietnam Fresh Banana insights

Japanese trade statistics show that the quantity of bananas imported from Vietnam in 2024 has increased to 33,000 tons, nearly 14 times the amount in 2019, as Vietnam's import market share from Japan increased from 0.2% to 3.2%. In July 2025, the quantity of bananas exported from Vietnam to the Tokyo region increased more than twofold compared to the same period last year. Although it still accounts for a very small portion of the total imports, this could be a breakthrough, potentially changing the market landscape previously dominated by Philippine bananas. In July 2025, the quantity of bananas exported from Vietnam to the Tokyo region increased more than twofold compared to the same period last year. Although this still accounts for a small portion of the total imports, compared to the majority of the imports previously dominated by Philippine bananas, this could be a breakthrough. The export volume of Vietnamese bananas currently ranks second only to the Philippines and Ecuador. A trading company stated that this growth is due to the low price and high quality. Vietnam's cultivation costs are lower than those of the Philippines and other major banana-producing countries. Additionally, compared to Latin American production sites such as Mexico and Ecuador, Vietnam is closer to Japan, resulting in lower transportation costs. A chain of grocery stores near Tokyo began trial sales of Vietnamese bananas two years ago, and now an employee stated that customers usually purchase Vietnamese bananas. The price of Vietnamese bananas in another chain of grocery stores is about 10% lower than that of Philippine bananas. Japan and Vietnam are both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), so the current tariff for Japanese imports of bananas from Vietnam is 5.4%. This rate will be gradually reduced in stages and completely eliminated in 2028. This may bring more price advantages for Vietnamese bananas. (End)

According to Japan's trade statistics, banana imports from Vietnam last year surged to 33,000 tons - nearly 14 times the amount in 2019. Vietnam's market share increased from 0.2% to 3.2% of Japan's total banana imports. Just last month, the volume of Vietnamese bananas reaching the Tokyo region doubled compared to the same period last year. Although still a small percentage of total imports, this could be a breakthrough compared to the volume of bananas imported from the Philippines, which previously held the majority. "Vietnamese bananas are now much more visible," said a wholesale dealer at the Ota Tokyo market. He began noticing Vietnamese banana shipments around 2023. Currently, Vietnamese bananas rank third in sales volume, following the Philippines and Ecuador. According to importing companies, Vietnamese bananas are increasingly favored due to their low price and good quality, according to the importing companies. Growing bananas in Vietnam costs less than in the Philippines and other countries. Moreover, Vietnam is closer to Japan than Latin American countries like Mexico and Ecuador, so transportation is also cheaper.

Core tip: Bananas are one of the most popular fruit trees in Vietnam, widely cultivated from the northern and central mountainous regions to the southern delta. The national banana planting area exceeds 161,000 hectares, with a production volume close to 3 million tons in 2024. Bananas are not only the fruit with the highest yield among key fruit trees but also one of the products with a significant export value in Vietnam's agricultural sector.