Vietnam: Fruit and vegetable industry to set standards for key export products

The fruit and vegetable industry in Vietnam is being urged to develop national standards for key export products to ensure growth in the coming years. The industry has seen success this year with exports reaching a record $7.2 billion and products being sold in over 60 countries. China has granted export licenses for 15 Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products, and the industry plans to expand into other markets like the US and Thailand. Despite these successes, there is potential for growth, especially with the country signing 16 new-generation free trade agreements. However, the industry needs to develop comprehensive standards for quality control for high-value products like durians, dragon fruit, and bananas to build a strong brand and maintain consumer reputation.

The fruit and vegetable industry has been told to set national standards for key export products to ensure robust growth over the coming years, according to insiders. Addressing a conference in Hanoi on December 27, Nguyen Thanh Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), emphasised that fruit and vegetables exports reached a record high of US$7.2 billion this year with various products penetrating into more than 60 countries worldwide. Currently, Vietnam has seen many key export products such as mangoes, bananas, and durian make inroads into China, the world's largest fruit and vegetable market. Most notably, the number of the products that are exported via official channels has been increasing. China has granted export licenses for 15 Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products, of which durians, bananas, and coconuts are all witnessing positive growth. Along with the Chinese market, Vietnamese fruit and vegetables have penetrated many other markets ...