Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam earned over 2 billion USD from exporting fruitsand vegetables in the first half of 2018, a year-on-year rise of 19.7 percent.

During the period, Vietnamese fruit and vegetableexports to the largest markets registered high growth, with China ranking firstas the country imported 1.2 billion USD worth of products, an annual increaseof 18.1 percent.

The US came second with 50.9 million USD, up 14.6percent. It was followed by Japan with 46.7 million USD, up 8 percent; theRepublic of Korea with 46.5 million USD, up 15.4 percent; and Thailand with26.1 million USD; up 26.3 percent.

At present, China remains Vietnam's top exportmarket, accounting for 74.6 percent of the latter's fruit and vegetable exportturnover in the first five months.

The result is attributed to the similarity indemand, habits and consumer taste and close geographical distance betweenVietnam and China. However, requirements for product quality of the Chinesemarket are increasing as the common trend of the world.

Therefore, together with improving the quality of products,businesses are advised to learn about China’s crops and seasons to plantsuitable fruits and vegetables to avoid coinciding with its crops as well asdepreciation.

Experts said that it is necessary to synchronouslyimplement measures such as intensifying the export of fresh fruits and the useof semi-processed and preservation technologies.

They stressed the need to expand export markets andstrictly follow their requirements on food safety and quality.

Tran Hiep, from the Tien Giang Vegetables and FruitsJoint Stock Company, attributed the increase in the export turnover toincreasing demand of importers.

According to him, the export markets of Vietnamesefruits and vegetables are diversified in the first six months of this year.

The European and American markets started buyingmany kinds of fruits and vegetables which they did not import in the past, suchas mango and dragon fruits.

Last year, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exportvalue exceeded 3.5 billion USD. The sector is striving to reach a year-on-yeargrowth of 10-15 percent this year, or around 4 billion USD.

With half of the target achieved, Vietnam is likelyto reach the set target, Hiep added.-VNA