Fruit export turnover is expected to reach 2 billion USD by the end ofthis year when businesses increase their exports, the Vietnam Fruit andVegetable Association has said.

For export markets with strictguidelines, businesses are improving quality, including the use ofirradiation technology or sulphur dioxide fumigation. They are alsotrying to overcome technical barriers of import markets.

TheMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development said many choosy markets,such as the US and Australia, had allowed Vietnamese fruit exports, andJapan and the Republic of Korea were expected to permit exports of somefruit.

The Republic of Korea imports dragonfruit, and will begin to import mango and star apple from Vietnam by the end of the year.

Japan'sMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued an importlicense for mango from Vietnam's Dong Nai province after a Japanesebusiness delegation visited Dong Nai to survey orchards in Xuan Locdistrict.

Japan is the second largest import market of Vietnamese fruit, with a market share of 8 percent, after China.

Vietnam is now negotiating with Japan to export red-flesh dragonfruit. It now exports the white-flesh variety.

Vietnam has completed procedures to export mangosteen and plums to China.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said Vietnam's export value of fruits and vegetables had seen strong growth in recent years.

In 2009, fruit export turnover reached 439 million USD and increased to 1.1 billion USD in 2013 and 1.5 billion USD last year.

In the first six months, fruit export turnover reached 700 million USD.-VNA