According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports in September 2025 reached US$1.4 billion, a 52.2 per cent year-on-year increase and the highest monthly value ever recorded.
For the first nine months of 2025, total export turnover amounted to US$6.22 billion, up 10.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
China, the United States, and South Korea were the top three importers, accounting for 73.4 per cent of Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export value. Exports to the US reached US$406 million, up 59.8 per cent year-on-year. Exports to South Korea totaled US$237 million, comparable to last year. Exports to China in September alone reached US$1.07 billion, a record monthly figure for any single market, representing a 50.7 per cent increase compared to September 2024. For the first nine months, exports to China totaled US$3.86 billion, reversing an earlier decline and posting 1.8 per cent growth year-on-year.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), noted that the US$1.07 billion export value to China in September is the highest ever recorded for the industry in a single market. Of that total, durian exports accounted for around US$800 million.
A fruit export company executive reported that exports of fresh whole durians to China surged in September to 320 containers, up from 150 in August, due to the peak harvest in the Central Highlands. Frozen durians were officially approved for export last year, but companies are still working to meet sourcing and regulatory requirements.
The strong September shipments were supported by Chinese customs approvals of Vietnamese durians that passed inspections for yellow spot disease and cadmium levels. Vietnam currently holds a unique position as the only supplier of fresh durians at this time of year, which has driven demand from Chinese buyers.
According to Nguyen, durian will remain the leading export product in the final months of 2025. In the first nine months, durian exports generated between US$2.6 and US$2.7 billion. Harvest in Gia Lai continues, with the Mekong Delta harvest expected to follow.
Other fruits showing strong potential in the Chinese market include bananas, mangoes, jackfruit, and coconuts, which are expected to contribute further growth in the coming months.
Based on Vinafruit's projections, Vietnam's fruit exporters could earn about US$5.5 billion from the Chinese market in 2025, exceeding the US$4.63 billion achieved in 2024.
Source: Vietnam.net
