Vietnam’s veggie, fruit exports to China plunge 43% due to strict inspections
Vietnam’s veggie, fruit exports to China plunge 43% due to strict inspections
Vietnam's vegetable and fruit exports to China in the first two months of this year dropped 43 percent compared to the same period last year due to China's tightening of checks on chemical residues in durians, jackfruits, and dragon fruits.
A durian packaging facility in southern Vietnam. Photo: T.Vy |
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam exported US$350 million worth of vegetables and fruits in February, bringing the total value for the first two months of 2025 to $724 million, while the figure reached $970 million in the same period last year.
Vietnam's vegetable and fruit products were primarily exported to China, which accounted for 46.5 percent of the total export value.
China was followed by the U.S. and Thailand, with respective shares of eight and five percent.
While Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to China decreased, exports to the U.S. increased 38 percent, and shipments to Thailand rose five percent.
Among the 15 largest export markets, China reported the sharpest decrease, while the highest increase was seen in the UK, with a 57-percent rise.
The sharp decline in vegetable and fruit exports to China is mainly due to the country tightening its inspections on chemical residues in imported fruits, including durians, which are a major export for Vietnam.
As a result, all durian shipments wishing to be exported to China must have cadmium and Auramine O analysis results, carried out at laboratories accredited by China.
Consequently, durian exports to China were sometimes suspended in the wake of the new regulation.
In the first 40 days of this year, about 3,500 metric tons of durians were exported to China, plummeting 80 percent year on year.
Although the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development employed several solutions immediately after China imposed the new regulation, the exportation of durians to China remains challenging.
The ministry advised farmers and durian exporters not to use banned chemicals or exceed the maximum allowable residue levels regulated by importing countries.
They should have food safety control programs at farms, growing regions, packaging, processing and storage facilities to facilitate exports in the future.
In 2024, Vietnam's fruit export turnover reached $7.12 billion, up 27 percent over 2023.
Durians were the main product, accounting for nearly half of the total fruit export value, raking in $3.2 billion, with most durian exports going to China (736,000 metric tons valued at $2.94 billion).
In 2025, Vietnam is expected to harvest about 1.5 million metric tons of durians, mainly from April to September.
- 11:01 07/03/2025
