Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits by mid-July continued toenjoy a rosy export growth, boding well for the export revenue of 3 billion USDfor the whole year as forecast.

Latest statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed thatthe country pocketed nearly 1.85 billion USD from vegetable and fruit exportfrom the beginning of this year to July 15, surging by 45 percent from the sametime last year.

In addition, consumers’ demand for Vietnamese vegetables and fruits will behigher during the Christmas and New Year holidays, auguring well for thecountry’s export revenue goal.

Vietnamese vegetables and fruits have been present in 60 markets globally. China,Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the US were four leading importers,accounting for 85 percent of total vegetable and fruit export value.

Shipments to traditional markets witnessed good expansion, including Japan (56percent), China (50 percent), the US (23 percent), the RoK (15 percent) andThailand (12 percent). Meanwhile, substantial growth was seen in Hong Kong (102percent), the United Arab Emirates (81 percent), Laos (78.6 percent) and Russia(54.6 percent).

However, export revenue suffered stark decline in Cambodia (81.8 percent),Indonesia (53 percent) and the UK (42 percent).

Dragon fruit ranked first in export value, accounting for 50 percent of the totalfruit export revenue.  Binh Thuanprovince, the country’s largest dragon fruit exporter, has paid heed todeveloping VietGAP dragon fruit cultivation. Nearly 7,700 hectares of land werezoned off for growing dragon fruit in line with VietGAP standards for exportsto fastidious markets like the US and the EU.

Mangos, litchis and longans are also Vietnam’s strategic staples.

The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment is making a beeline for bringing litchis to Japan. It will continuenegotiations and complete procedures to ship longans to Australia and NewZealand.

As the largest litchi growing area, Bac Giang province has exported 15,000tonnes of litchis to China through three border gates of Lang Son, Lao Cai andHa Giang. Another 13 tonnes have just been shipped to Australia while a batchof litchis has entered Thailand, opening big opportunities for the Vietnamesefruit.

The first batch of 3.5 tonnes of mangoes from northern Son La provinceunderwent irradiation treatment for shipment to Australia. The mangoes,weighing 450-650 grammes each, were purchased by Agricare Vietnam Co., Ltd. atthe price of 22,000 VND (0.9 USD) per kilogramme.

According to Lo Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee,the province has a plan to develop fruit tree cultivation, especially mangoes.Currently, it has some 4,000 hectares of mangoes with total productivity ofover 3,000 tonnes.

By 2030, 100,000 hectares will be used to grow fruit trees, half of which willbe set aside for mango plantation, he added.

Le Son Ha from thePlant Protection Department said that mango export to Australia will pave the wayfor the fruit to enter many new markets. The US, the EU, Japan, the RoK andAustralia are prioritised markets for trade promotion, he stressed.-VNA