China Retains Top Spot in Vietnam’s Booming Fruit Import Market

According to a recent report by online newspaper VnExpress, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable imports totaled $1.3 billion in the first five months of this year, representing a 31% year-on-year increase. This growth significantly outpaced the country’s 20% increase in fruit and vegetable exports during the same period.

China remained Vietnam’s largest supplier, with imports exceeding $500 million, a 49% increase from the previous year. The United States ranked second, with imports reaching $325 million, up 32% year on year. Meanwhile, imports from Cambodia, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand and India all saw robust growth ranging from 26% to 70%, while Chile and South Korea were the only major suppliers for which imports declined.

In recent years, demand for imported fruit among Vietnamese consumers has grown steadily, particularly during holidays and other gift-giving occasions. Although Vietnam is currently in the peak harvest season for domestic tropical fruits, imported fruit remains widely available across traditional wet markets, supermarkets, fruit specialty stores and e-commerce platforms, offering consumers an increasingly diverse selection.

A fruit vendor in Ho Chi Minh City said that while only a limited selection of U.S. table grapes was available in previous years, consumers can now choose from a wide variety of green, red and black grapes. Prices have also become more affordable, ranging from 130,000 Vietnamese dong ($4.94) to 250,000 dong ($9.51) per kilogram, approximately 10–15% lower than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, fresh apples and oranges sourced from the United States, China, Australia and New Zealand have become increasingly common across the market.

According to estimates by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the country’s fruit and vegetable imports are projected to reach nearly $1.6 billion in the first half of the year, up nearly 30% from the same period last year. If the current pace continues, full-year imports could approach $4 billion, setting a new all-time record.

Importers attribute the growing popularity of imported fruit in part to significant reductions in import tariffs. Under free trade agreements such as the European Union–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the ASEAN Free Trade Area, tariff rates on many products have been reduced to very low levels or eliminated altogether.

Beginning in 2025, Vietnamese authorities reduced the import tariff on fresh U.S. cherries from 10% to 5%, while the tariff on fresh U.S. apples was lowered from 8% to 5%. Meanwhile, most Chinese fresh fruit imported under the China–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement is also eligible for a zero-percent import tariff.

In addition to lower tariffs, improvements in cold chain logistics and increased competition among importers have helped reduce distribution costs, making many fruits that were once considered premium products more affordable and accessible to consumers.

However, the rapid growth in fruit imports has also intensified competition for Vietnam’s domestic fruit industry, particularly in the mid-range market segment. Many locally grown fruit varieties are facing increasing competitive pressure in terms of appearance, shelf life and supply consistency. This year, abundant harvests across southern Vietnam, coupled with rising import volumes, have driven down the prices of many fruit types compared with previous years.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.