According to preliminary data from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in September 2025 reached an estimated USD 1.4 billion, up 47.2% from August and 52.7% year-on-year.

This is the highest monthly revenue ever recorded by Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable industry, surpassing all previous forecasts. The value also rivals that of wood and wood products – the top export category in the agricultural sector.

In total, fruit and vegetable exports in the first nine months of 2025 are estimated at USD 6.22 billion, up 10.3% compared to the same period in 2024.

Durian drives record growth

According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), September’s record figures were largely thanks to durian exports, which surged again after recovering in August 2025.

Customs statistics show that in August alone, Vietnam’s durian exports reached nearly USD 589 million, up 55.2% from July and 9.8% from August 2024.

However, in the first eight months of 2025, durian exports totaled only USD 1.79 billion, down 16.2% year-on-year. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association estimated that September durian exports alone could reach USD 800–900 million.

Explosive growth across fruit categories

Besides durian, other fruit exports also recorded extraordinary growth in August and the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

For example, lychee exports in August skyrocketed 5,670% (nearly 58 times higher) year-on-year. Cumulative exports for the first eight months rose 312%.

Strawberries grew nearly 11 times, while avocado and pineapple exports doubled. Pistachios increased 2.5 times.

Vietnam’s processed fruit and vegetable exports also posted impressive growth, with many products doubling or tripling in value compared to 2024. This highlights the industry’s push to move up the value chain by boosting processed products.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, processed produce has multiple advantages. It not only stabilizes domestic prices but also generates 3–5 times more value than fresh products and extends shelf life significantly.

Forecasts suggest 2026–2030 will be a breakthrough period for processed fruit exports, with demand continuing to rise in China, the US, and Europe.

If Vietnam capitalizes on existing trade protocols, invests in deep processing technology, and develops standardized growing regions, processed fruit could achieve double-digit annual growth and become a billion-dollar export category independent of fresh exports.

Investment in processing and expansion

Many enterprises are already investing in new factories with modern production lines, expanding specialized cultivation zones, and improving raw material quality to meet strict import standards.

For fresh fruit, Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T Group, said exports of durian, pomelo, longan, mango, and dragon fruit all grew strongly across markets, especially the United States. By the end of September, the company’s revenue was estimated to be up 17–18% compared to the same period in 2024.

At the 10th National Farmers Forum 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam revealed that Vietnam’s pomelo and avocado are expected to gain official access to the Chinese market soon.

He said that in 2024, he and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with China’s Minister of Commerce, discussed opening the market for these fruits. Chinese customs officials have already inspected growing areas, and the protocol is nearly complete.

By early 2026, pomelo and avocado could be officially cleared for export to China, providing new momentum for Vietnam’s fruit export industry.

Tam An