Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports Set a New Record, Surpassing USD 1 Billion in July 2026

1. A Historic Milestone: An Overview of Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports in the First Seven Months of 2026

According to reports presented at the Government’s regular meeting and data released by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), Vietnam’s agricultural sector witnessed remarkable growth in fruit and vegetable exports.

In July 2026 alone, export turnover was estimated at USD 1.12 billion (based on Government data) and approximately USD 1.06 billion (up 38% year-on-year, according to Vinafruit). This marked the first time in history that the sector’s monthly export value exceeded USD 1 billion, accounting for more than 23% of the total export value recorded during the first seven months of the year.

Cumulatively, during the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached approximately USD 4.83 billion, representing a 24.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025. (Vinafruit reported exports of USD 4.76 billion, up 23% year-on-year.)

The outstanding performance of the fruit and vegetable sector made a significant contribution to lifting Vietnam’s total agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports to nearly USD 42.8 billion during the first seven months of 2026, an increase of 7.5% year-on-year and achieving nearly 58% of the annual export target.

Table 1: Comparison of Export Turnover Across Selected Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Sectors (First Seven Months of 2026)

2. Durian: The “Golden Growth Driver” Accounting for Over 50% of Fruit and Vegetable Exports

The recovery of durian exports has been the single most important driver behind the sector’s strong performance. The fruit now accounts for more than 50% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable export value.

• Impressive Export Revenue: In July 2026, durian exports were estimated to generate USD 600–700 million. Cumulative export revenue for the first seven months of 2026 reached approximately USD 1.8 billion, representing a 30% increase compared with the same period last year.

• Enhanced Customs Clearance: China has recently approved 18 additional Vietnamese agricultural testing laboratories, increasing the total number of accredited facilities from 32 to 50. This expansion is expected to ease customs clearance, reduce congestion, and shorten documentation processing times for durian, jackfruit, and other fresh fruits.

• Strong Growth Outlook: According to Vinafruit, from August to October 2026, if customs clearance continues to improve, durian exports could generate nearly USD 1 billion per month.

In addition to durian, exports of fresh coconuts, mangoes, bananas, passion fruit, dragon fruit, jackfruit, watermelons, and processed fruit and vegetable products also recorded positive growth during the period.

3. Market Analysis: China Remains the Largest Market, While the EU and the United States Drive High-Quality Growth

Vietnam’s repositioning on the global agricultural export map has enabled its fruit and vegetable industry not only to strengthen its presence in China but also to expand significantly into high-value, demanding markets. (The detailed market data below covers the first six months of 2026.)

China – The Largest Export Market (Accounting for 55% of Total Exports)

• June 2026: Export value reached USD 621.2 million, up 56.1% month-on-month (MoM) and 18.1% year-on-year (YoY).

• First six months of 2026: Exports totaled approximately USD 2.0 billion, an increase of 24.7% compared with the same period in 2025.

• Note: In 2025, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to China reached a record USD 5.5 billion, up 18.8% year-on-year.

United States – The Second-Largest Export Market (Accounting for 7.9%)

• June 2026: Export value reached USD 59.4 million, up 9.4% MoM and 10.2% YoY.

• First six months of 2026: Exports totaled USD 292.1 million, representing an 11.7% year-on-year increase.

South Korea – The Third-Largest Export Market (Accounting for 4.6%)

• June 2026: Export value reached USD 28.7 million, down 7.5% MoM due to seasonal factors, but still up 6.4% YoY.

• First six months of 2026: Exports reached USD 170.4 million, an increase of 8.1% compared with the same period last year.

European Union (EU): A Bright Spot Driven by the EVFTA (Accounting for 5.8%)

• June 2026: Export value reached USD 46.8 million, up 9.8% MoM and a remarkable 37.9% YoY.

• First six months of 2026: Exports totaled USD 214.4 million, representing a 31.8% year-on-year increase.

• Key EU Markets:

  • The Netherlands: The EU’s largest importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables, with imports valued at USD 117 million, up 46.8% year-on-year and accounting for 54.6% of Vietnam’s total exports to the EU.

  • Germany: Imports reached USD 58.4 million, an increase of 47% year-on-year.

  • France: Accounted for 14.7% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports to the EU.

Meanwhile, exports to other important markets, including Japan and Australia, continue to expand, helping Vietnam diversify its export destinations and reduce dependence on any single market.

4. Challenges and Strategic Solutions: Toward New Export Records by the End of 2026

With export revenue approaching USD 5 billion in just the first seven months of the year, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export sector is well positioned for continued growth. However, achieving new record highs will require the industry to meet increasingly stringent quality requirements imposed by importing markets, particularly China.

• Stringent Quality Control Requirements: Export products must consistently meet high quality standards while maintaining low levels of heavy metal residues. Exporters and growing areas are required to strictly control pesticide residues, cadmium content, Auramine O (Yellow O) contamination, and ensure full compliance with traceability requirements.

• Giải pháp trọng tâm: Key priorities include accelerating the issuance of growing area codes and packing facility codes, expanding value-added processing, building transparent and traceable supply chains, and maximizing the benefits of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Conclusion

The milestone of “Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports Set a New Record, Surpassing USD 1 Billion in July 2026” represents far more than an impressive statistical achievement. It reflects the remarkable transformation of Vietnam’s agricultural sector from a focus on production volume to one driven by quality and value.

Supported by the rapid growth of durian exports and the continued expansion into diversified international markets, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable industry is well positioned to achieve even greater export milestones in the remaining months of 2026.

References:

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports surpass $1bln monthly milestone for the first time – VnEconomy

Vietnam’s Fruit and Vegetable Exports Exceeded USD 1.1 Billion in July 2026