Vegetable and fruit exports reach $2.98 bln in first five months of 2026

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, May marked the lead-up to peak harvest season for many of Vietnam's signature crops, including durian, lychee, mango, and coconut, with abundant supply from domestic growing regions expected to fuel further export growth through the second and third quarters of 2026.

Estimated fruit and vegetable export turnover for May 2026 reached 614.8 million USD, up 15.1% from the previous month, though marginally down 0.3% year-on-year. For the first five months of 2026, cumulative export value is estimated at approximately 2.98 billion USD, a 29.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Vietnam's export mix continues to shift away from traditional fresh produce toward higher-value processed goods. Preliminary data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs shows the share of processed products rose from 29.33% in the first four months of 2025 to 35.82% in the same period of 2026, boosting overall value and reducing dependence on fresh fruit seasonality.

Durian led the sector in export value during the first four months of 2026, surging 59.7% year-on-year to 293.13 million USD. The gains were supported by off-season supply extending into March, the batch approval of new growing area codes, and a low base from the prior year.

Pistachios posted the most dramatic growth, with exports jumping 204.6% year-on-year to 224.63 million USD in the first four months of 2026, making nuts and seeds one of the top contributors to total fruit and vegetable export value.

Coconut and coconut-derived products ranked fourth in the sector, rising 14.9% to 198.38 million USD over the same period, supported by steady formal-channel exports to major markets. Dragon fruit, jackfruit, and passion fruit also recorded positive growth on the back of consistent demand from China, the United States, and South Korea.

Pomelo and lime emerged as products with significant untapped export potential following a milestone in April 2026, when Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) formally signed a phytosanitary protocol authorizing their export to China. The agreement was the result of technical negotiations spanning seven years, beginning in 2019.

Also in April, Vietnam's first commercially exported fresh pomelos cleared customs and were delivered to consumers in Australia via air freight, a development officials described as evidence of the sector's capacity to meet international standards and of effective coordination between regulators, exporters, and international technical assistance organizations.

Despite strong overall performance, industry observers caution that sustaining growth will require continued improvements in product quality, expansion of certified growing areas, deeper investment in processing, and proactive compliance with increasingly stringent international market requirements. Meeting those benchmarks, analysts note, will be key not only to growing export revenues but to strengthening Vietnam's standing in the global agricultural trade landscape.