Việt Nam an ideal market for foreign fruit exporters

HO CHI MINH CITY— In recent years, many foreign fruit exporters have entered Việt Nam to take advantage of local people’s rising popularity of imported fruit in the country.

Việt Nam has become an ideal market for foreign fruit exports. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

Last year, the total amount of foreign fruit consumption in the country reached US$1.7 trillion, and is expected to continue to increase.

In the last three years, many foreign fruit exporters have been looking for import partners in Việt Nam.

Last week, the three biggest grape growers from Sunraysia, Australia, representing the Australian Table Grape Association Inc, and the Australian trade agency (Austrade) promoted their high-quality fresh grapes to consumers in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Việt Nam is the 7th largest import market for fresh grapes in Australia. Australian grape export companies have organised many activities to promote their products to Vietnamese customers, according to Jeff Scott, director of Australian Table Grape Association Inc.

Besides grapes, cherries are one of Australia’s major fruit exports. Last year, Australia sold almost 350 tonnes of cherries to Việt Nam.

In addition, Việt Nam has become an ideal market for New Zealand’s apples.

New Zealand began exporting fruit to Việt Nam after the direct flight from Auckland to HCM City opened in 2016.

Đinh Ngọc Thuỷ, deputy director of Klever Fruits, which specialises in importing fruit, said that consumer demand for clean and delicious fruits was increasing.

The company has imported seasonal fruits from South Africa, South Korea, Japan, the US and Chile to meet the demands of customers, Thuỷ said.

Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, commercial director of market research company Katar Worldpanel, said that Vietnamese customers were focusing on nutrition and food safety.

Each household spends nearly VNĐ4.5 million ($193) per month for fresh food, he added.

The biggest fruit exporter to Việt Nam is Thailand, with more than 40 per cent, while China is second with 24 per cent.

In addition, fruit from the US, Chile and South Korea are also popular in the market.