Vietnamese prefer Thai and Chinese fruit & vegetables

Vietnamese people spent more than $164 million on fruit and vegetable imports in the first two months of 2017, of which 70 per cent were from Thailand and China, according to figures from the General Department of Customs (GDC).

Import value fell nearly 31 per cent year-on-year. On average, Vietnamese people spend nearly $2.8 million per day on imported fruit and vegetables.

Thailand and China’s 70 per cent market share was equal to $114.2 million.

Thailand is the largest source, with turnover of $82.6 million, or 50 per cent. China saw turnover reach $31.6 million. 

Myanmar and the US followed, with $15 million and $13.2 million, respectively.

Most imports were mangos, custard-apples, and tamarind from Thailand and apples, oranges, pears, kiwi fruit, and cherries from New Zealand and Australia, while those from China were mainly cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, oranges, and apples.

According to agricultural experts, the two main reasons why Vietnamese have been attracted to Thai fruit in recent years are the difference in taste and the quality.

Exports, meanwhile, were more than $421,000 in the first two months, up 27 per cent year-on-year. 

Major markets were China, Japan, Taiwan, and Canada.