Fruit and vegetable exports in 2025: Will it reach the target of 8 billion USD?

Although expected to be one of the key sectors of Vietnamese agriculture, fruit and vegetable exports in the first half of 2025 are facing many major challenges, especially the decline in traditional markets.

However, with positive signals from new markets and efforts from businesses and management agencies, the export target of 8 billion USD for the whole year of 2025 still shows signs of being feasible...

Processing mangoes for export at Hung Hau Food Joint Stock Company.

Export turnover reached 3.1 billion USD

After many months of “quietness”, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports recorded an impressive breakthrough in June 2025. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , the export turnover of fruits and vegetables in June 2025 reached 807 million USD, up 31% compared to the previous month and up more than 20% compared to the same period in 2024. This figure far exceeds the 750 million USD previously announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, reflecting a clear sign of recovery from export enterprises after a period of prolonged difficulties.

However, due to the sharp decrease in turnover in the first 5 months of the year, the total export of vegetables and fruits in the first 6 months of the year only reached 3.1 billion USD, down 7% compared to the same period last year.

One of the factors contributing greatly to the sudden growth in fruit and vegetable exports in June 2025 is the recovery of the durian industry.

Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VINAFRUIT) Dang Phuc Nguyen shared that durian exports are bustling again, not only in the Chinese market, but also to Thailand - something that was very rare before. Key durian growing regions such as the Central Highlands and the Southeast have low cadmium contamination rates, so more goods meet export standards; at the same time, businesses are also proactively checking the quality from the garden, tightening the purchasing and packaging process...

In addition to durian, many other products such as coconut, passion fruit, processed mango, etc. also grew positively last month. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the first half of 2025, the Chinese market accounted for 48.2% of the total export turnover of vegetables and fruits. China continued to be the largest market but decreased sharply by 35.1% compared to the same period.

Meanwhile, exports to the US grew impressively by 65.2%, reaching 9% of the market share; South Korea ranked third with 5.7%. This clear differentiation shows that the trend of shifting export markets is taking place strongly, reflecting the market's increasingly high requirements for quality, traceability, food safety control, etc.

VINAFRUIT Chairman Nguyen Thanh Binh said that currently, every market has high requirements for food safety, product quality, traceability, environmental protection, etc. If they do not meet these requirements, businesses will be eliminated from the playing field immediately. Accordingly, to export vegetables and fruits sustainably and avoid dependence on one market, businesses need to reorganize fruit production according to the value chain, form concentrated raw material areas, consistent in quality and size, and have the ability to meet large and uniform orders. In particular, the application of high technology, automation, and sustainable farming is the key for the fruit industry to not only overcome technical barriers, but also enhance the value of national brands.

Invest heavily in processing

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the third quarter of 2025 is the peak export season for durian - a key product that can help the industry regain growth momentum. However, opportunities come with challenges. If businesses and farmers do not maintain good food safety conditions or continue to violate growing area codes and plant quarantine, the risk of being tightened by markets is very high.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien affirmed that the fruit and vegetable industry is strongly restructuring from growing areas - varieties - standardization - to consumption chains. The opportunity to reach 8 billion USD is still there if we quickly shift to improving quality, diversifying markets, and controlling the value chain...

Along with high technology in production, processing is an important direction for fruit and vegetable exporting enterprises in the current context. Fresh fruit exports are still limited when accessing distant markets such as Europe, the United States... Therefore, developing the fruit processing industry is an inevitable path to increase value and expand the market. Many experts in the industry believe that if processing is not promoted, Vietnamese fruits will have difficulty reaching the world .

According to General Director of Vina T&T Group Nguyen Dinh Tung, technological innovation, market diversification, and focusing on processing are mandatory solutions for sustainable fruit and vegetable exports; at the same time, it is necessary to control quality, traceability, growing areas, and food safety, promote trade promotion, and build industry brands...

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the second half of the year, Vietnam will continue to negotiate to open more markets for mangosteen, avocado, and coconut; support businesses through trade promotion, international fairs, and consumption connections in potential markets...

Thus, the export target of 8 billion USD in 2025 is completely achievable when the whole industry accelerates in the second half of the year with an average of 1 billion USD per month. To maintain the growth rate, it is necessary to comprehensively transform from production thinking to market approach...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/xuat-khau-rau-qua-nam-2025-lieu-co-can-dich-8-ty-usd-709007.html