Western provinces are preparing to enter the off-season durian harvest period. An opportunity to boost export turnover. Photo: DAO NGOC THACH

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said: In 2023, fruit and vegetable exports will reach a value of 5.6 billion USD, an increase of 167% compared to the previous year. In particular, the Chinese market will reach 3.6 billion USD, an increase of 238% compared to 2022. In the group of 10 most important markets, most of them have grown quite well, except for Thailand, Taiwan and Russia, which decreased slightly. "With optimism in the first month of 2024, we believe that fruit and vegetable exports for the whole year will reach a turnover of 6.5 billion USD. Currently, in addition to the strength of durian, banana and dragon fruit exports to the Chinese market are at their peak," Mr. Nguyen said optimistically.

According to Mr. Nguyen, winter will come late at the end of 2023, so banana exports will be somewhat slow due to China's abundant domestic banana production. However, the current continuous cold spells are limiting China's domestic banana supply. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the bananas on the tree will turn black and cannot be sold. Therefore, the Chinese market is in short supply, and banana exports are favorable. In addition, the important product, dragon fruit, is also growing well. On the one hand, because China is in winter, there is no domestic supply. Meanwhile, the market is at the peak of the consumption season. Chinese people love to use dragon fruit as an offering during the holidays. The consumption season of Vietnamese dragon fruit in the Chinese market usually lasts from the beginning of the year to the end of May every year.

It is the off-season so dragon fruit growers in Binh Thuan, Long An and Tien Giang have to use lamps to produce fruit. However, this year the weather is not favorable because the rainy season ended early, there is a lot of sunshine so the flowers bloom less, causing a significant decrease in output. Gardener Duong Phat Trung in Dong Son commune (Go Cong Tay, Tien Giang) compared: Last year, the yield could reach 8 - 10 tons/ha, but this year it is only about 5 tons/ha. Red-fleshed dragon fruit bought in bulk costs an average of about 17,000 - 18,000 VND/kg. The closer to Tet, the higher the price, currently the first-class selected goods cost 25,000 VND/kg, by the end of the month the price will increase to 28,000 - 30,000 VND/kg.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Hoang Thu Huong, Deputy Director of Hoa Le Clean Dragon Fruit Cooperative in Ham Thuan Bac District (Binh Thuan), informed: Dragon fruit prices are at a good level, white-fleshed dragon fruit grade 1 purchased at the garden costs up to 16,000 VND/kg./.

According to Thanh Nien

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khoi-dau-nhu-mo-xuat-khau-rau-qua-thang-1-dat-gan-nua-ti-usd-185240120154631631.htm