Vietnam grows banana and coconut exports: Vietnam has become the ninth-largest global banana exporter and is a key player in coconut exports. In 2024, Vietnam’s fruit-growing area expanded to 1.28 million hectares, generating approximately 15 million tons annually. Banana exports alone reached nearly US$380 million, with an output of around three million tons.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment projects an annual coconut production of 2.28 million tons, cultivated over 202,000 hectares, with a focus on processed exports through 2030. Passion fruit production stands at 163,000 tons, with a target to nearly double by 2030, aiming for market access in the U.S., South Korea, and Thailand. Pineapple production is also set to increase from its current 860,000 tons to one million tons by 2030.
Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman of Nafoods Group, noted that passion fruit exports, including purée and concentrate, currently bring in about $300 million annually. He stated that if the Chinese market were to open fully, exports could potentially reach $1 billion.
Pham Quoc Liem, CEO of Unifarm, emphasized that with standardized production and high-tech farming, banana export revenues could surpass $4 billion in the future. However, officials highlighted challenges like pesticide misuse, poor traceability systems, and restricted market access. They advocated for improved oversight, regional planning, and increased investment in processing and quality control.
Currently, durian is the only Vietnamese fruit exceeding $1 billion in export value, while other fruits like dragon fruit have experienced declines.
News Courtesy: Freshplaza