According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in the Mekong Delta alone, the total harvested fruit output in December reached 360,800 tons, of which dragon fruit, mango, banana, jackfruit, pineapple and durian are in full harvest. In Q1/2023, the delta’s fruit output may reach 1.08 million tons. 

Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, said the full-tax export turnover to China of some fruits such as durian, dragon fruit and bananas have soared as the two countries have signed a protocol. Vietnam’s banana exports have for the first time exceeded the Philippines. It is expected that a protocol on sweet potato exports will be signed soon.

Nguyen said that Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit market is heavily affected by the Chinese market as this market accounts for 50 percent of the country’s vegetables and fruit exports. China’s demand for Vietnamese vegetables and fruits is always high on Tet holiday, so the market will have a big impact on prices and consumption of Vietnam’s products. 

Because of China’s ‘zero Covid’ policy, a deadlock has sometimes occurred at major border gates and seaports. Sometimes, 5,000-6,000 trucks could not deliver products, which caused damage.

China has reportedly loosened its Covid control policy and the situation at border gates has improved, but difficulties still exist.

“The deadlock may be less serious, but fruit-carrying trucks may still get stuck at border areas,” Nguyen warned.

Le Thanh Hoa from MARD said that Vietnam’s exports to China would be still difficult because of the ‘zero Covid’ policy. 

Yunnan and GuangXi provinces have applied effective pandemic prevention policies. Therefore, many small border gates have been reopened that will facilitate Vietnam’s exports of farm produce.

However, Hoa added that pressure on fruit consumption will exist, especially for mango, dragon fruit, banana and durian. 

Vietnam exported $151.7 million worth of vegetables and fruits in October, up by 44.2 percent year-on-year.

Tam An