It is expected that Vietnam will earn 500 million USD from the export of vegetables and fruit this year, an increase of 10 percent over last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
Products such as dragon fruit, pineapples, mangos, papayas, jackfruit, canned fruit and a variety of vegetables have been exported mainly to the US, the EU, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and mainland China, where imports are expected to increase following recent droughts and flooding.
During 2010, Vietnam 's vegetables and fruit exports to China accounted for 4 percent of the northern country's import turnover.
Exports to more strict markets such as Japan , are expected to bring in around 60 million USD this year, accounting for 0.7 percent of Japanese import turnover.
Vietnam expects to collect an additional 70 million USD from its vegetables exports to Russia.
Regional markets such as Indonesia , Singapore and Malaysia are estimated to import more from Vietnam, and account for 10 percent of the total export turnover of fruit and vegetable sector, MoIT said.
Trade experts have noted that, in order to achieve its predicted export turnover, Vietnam should sufficiently support its farmers in pushing up production and implementing food safety and hygiene standards to penetrate foreign markets effectively./.