Vietnam exported US$35 million (VND896 billion) worth of lychees in June, more than three times the value from the same month in 2024, as several markets increased imports, according to customs data. China accounted for US$27 million (VND691 billion), 3.63 times higher than in June last year.
Markets with high quality requirements such as France, Australia, the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. also expanded purchases, with increases ranging from two- to five-fold. In the first half of 2025, lychee exports reached US$45.4 million (VND1.16 trillion), up 92% year-on-year. Shipments to the top 10 markets rose by between 10% and 2,000%.
A fruit exporter said the fruit was well received by international consumers due to its price levels and quality. More growing areas are now meeting Vietnamese and international standards such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP, as well as specific market requirements for destinations like the U.S., Japan, and the U.K.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said modern harvesting and preservation techniques have improved the quality and shelf life of Vietnamese lychee. He noted that businesses partner with farmers to improve productivity and quality from planting to harvesting.
At the farm gate, lychees are currently selling for VND8,000–20,000 (US$0.31–0.76) per kilogram, while fruit from orchards certified for export is priced at VND25,000–30,000 (US$0.99–1.18). At the start of the season in May, prices were VND35,000–40,000 (US$1.39–1.58). Export markets are seeing prices of VND200,000–300,000 (US$7.91–11.87) per kilogram.
Lychee is a seasonal crop mainly grown in northern Vietnam, especially in the former provinces of Bac Giang and Hai Duong. Many orchards in these areas comply with quality standards and hold planting area codes required for export.
The 2025 harvest is estimated at 250,000 tons, up 25% from 2024, with Bac Giang contributing around 165,000 tons. Luc Ngan district in Bac Giang, known as the country's main lychee production area, has about 18,000 hectares under cultivation and produces over 100,000 tons annually. Luc Ngan lychees are known for their size and sweetness and are exported to markets including Japan, Australia, the EU, and China.
Hai Duong, which became the first province to export lychees to Japan in 2020, has nearly 10,000 hectares of orchards. Its Thanh Ha lychees are characterized by thin skin, thick flesh, fragrance, and sweetness.
Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and Hung Yen provinces also grow lychees on a smaller scale. The Central Highlands and some southern provinces have trialed cultivation, but climate conditions remain a limiting factor.
Source: VNExpress
