Vietnam: fruit and veg exports sprout 11.3%

The country’s export turnover of fruit and vegetables fetched US$238.13 million in the first 11 months of 2006, an increase of 11.3 per cent over the previous year, according to the Trade Information Centre of the Ministry of Trade. In November alone, the country earned $23.11 million, a growth of 19.8 per cent against October and 12.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2005.

The fruit and vegetable sector experienced a strong increase in some import markets in November, including Japan with $2.4 million, up 25.43 per cent over the corresponding period of 2005; the US with $1.9 million, up 65.82 per cent; and Taiwan with $1.8 million, up 4.52 per cent.

However, in the first 11 months of 2006, Taiwan topped Viet Nam’s largest importers list with an export turnover of $25.7 million, up 3.6 per cent over the previous year, reported the Trade Information Centre. Japan followed with $25 million, then mainland China ($22.2 million), Russia ($20.3 million) and the US ($16.4 million).

Although the fruit and vegetable exports are reported to surge in some EU countries such as Italy, France and Greece, the European Union’s collective market only gained the turnover of $23.5 million in the first 11 months of 2006 – a decrease of 3 per cent over the same period of 2005. Total export turnover for 2006 is expected to touch $262 million, up 11.5 per cent year on year, according to the Trade Information Centre.

Key exports include mushroom, cucumber, potato, peanut, coconut, pineapple, dragon fruit and banana. The domestic market processes more than 6 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables each year, 50 per cent of which comes from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. It has set its sights on reaching 20 million tonnes by 2010.

Source: vneconomy.com.vn