Fruit and vegetable exports have risen by 89.2% this year to US$459 million due to a surge in demand from China, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

China has imported large volumes of durian, bananas and dragon fruit.

Cold snaps in many places in that country have limited domestic banana supply since the fruit turns black when the temperature drops.

China harvested dragon fruit in abundance last year, but the season is over, and Vietnam is able to export the fruit from January to May.

Chinese use dragon fruit as an item of worship during the Lunar New Year, and so demand for imports from Vietnamese has skyrocketed.

During President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Vietnam, the Chinese side said it would open its market to many Vietnamese agricultural products, including fresh coconut, frozen fruit products, citrus fruits, avocado, custard apple, and water apple.

The two sides also signed a protocol for watermelon export.

In addition to China, the U.S., the EU and some Asian countries are also set to open their doors to more Vietnamese fruits.

The U.S. and Australia plan to import passion fruit, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India want to buy grapefruit with India also eyeing durian imports.

VnExpress