Based on the estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's key fruit trees in 2022 are estimated to be at over 7.3 million mt, which is slightly less than the 2021 output. The output for the first 6 months of the year is estimated to be at 3.3 million mt, while that of the last 6 months (July-December) is estimated to be at 4.1 million mt. Despite lower aggregate production, some provinces have shown high output of exotic and popular fruits like dragon fruit, pomelos, jackfruit, and passion fruit. According to Vietnam's Center for Informatics and Statistics, the export value of fruits up to May 2022 was around USD 1.47 billion, which is a YoY decline of 13.6% compared to the same period in 2021. A sharp increase in fruit exports to Russia was observed , with the value of exports falling by almost 40%. In addition to the ongoing reason between Russia and Ukraine and widespread logistics bottlenecks, lower fruit production bottlenecks, especially in the first half of the year – was a major reason for lowering export values and volume in Vietnam.
A survey conducted by VnExpress also shows that the amount of imported fruit in Vietnamese markets, supermarkets, and stores has increased sharply in the past few months. Currently, Vietnamese grocery stores display fruits from the United States, China, Thailand, and Australia. Besides fruits from the above countries, fruits from Cambodia, India, and Laos were also seen in the market. Acacia mango and Cambodian durian are particularly attractive to Vietnamese consumers due to their high quality. These imported fruits are also priced competitively, being offered at much prices compared to the same period last year. Despite the high cost of transportation and logistics, the prices of imported fruits into Vietnam were quite mild and even comparable to those of local fruits.
In the first 5 months of the year, Vietnamese fruit imports from China, New Zealand, Cambodia, South Africa, and South Korea all increased at 3-digit rates. The South African market alone has a growth rate of nearly 190%.With fruit imports creating a market glut, locally-produced summer fruits such as mangosteen, durian, jackfruit, lychee, and avocado have been forced to lower their prices to attract customers. The prices for these grown fruits were reduced by 10%-15% compared to the same period in 2021. The outlook for the Vietnamese fruit market remains uncertain as the country fails to strike a balance between the demand for and supply of fruits. Imports of fruits have depressed market prices, and with limited purchasing power, there is a limit to how much fruit Vietnamese consumers can purchase.
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