Fruit and vegetable exports soar to record-breaking $8.6 billion

According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT), fruit and vegetable exports in the final month of 2025 reached $794 million, up 13.2% from November 2025 and a 50% increase compared to December 2024.

With these results, by the end of 2025 Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports set a new record, reaching USD 8.562 billion - well above the initial target of USD 8 billion set at the beginning of the year and up 20% compared to 2024.

Conversely, in 2025 Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable imports amounted to USD 3 billion. As a result, the sector recorded a trade surplus of more than USD 5.5 billion over the year.

Overall, 2025 marked a significant milestone for Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable industry, as export turnover surpassed the USD 8 billion threshold for the first time and reached a record high of nearly USD 8.6 billion. This achievement underscores Viet Nam’s increasingly prominent role in the global tropical fruit and vegetable supply chain.

Over the past year, China remained the key market, exerting a decisive influence on the overall growth trajectory of the sector. In the first half of 2025, fruit and vegetable exports declined, mainly due to China’s tighter controls on cadmium and Auramine O residues in imported durian, which led to a sharp drop in exports to this market.

From the third quarter of 2025, exports rebounded strongly as enterprises stepped up efforts to standardize growing areas, packing-house codes, traceability systems, and product quality. At the same time, Vietnamese and Chinese authorities enhanced effective coordination to address technical bottlenecks, thereby helping to maintain smooth customs clearance for key products, especially durian.

As a result, by the end of 2025, fruit and vegetable exports to China exceeded USD 5 billion for the first time, reaching USD 5.5 billion - an increase of 18% compared to 2024. China accounted for 64% of Viet Nam’s total fruit and vegetable export value in 2025.

Beyond China, several other markets also recorded strong growth over the year, notably the United States, where exports reached USD 547 million, up 52% year on year.

In 2025, export turnover for most Vietnamese fruits and vegetables rose compared to 2024. Many products, including fresh, frozen, and processed fruits and vegetables, posted double- and even triple-digit growth rates, highlighting a trend toward expansion and diversification in the sector’s export structure.

Notable high-growth products included durian, coconut, mango, pistachio, lime, passion fruit, almonds, fresh and processed pineapple, lychee, chili, ginger, and garlic, reflecting efforts to reduce reliance on traditional products and better tap into higher value-added market segments.