Vietnam’s monthly fruit and vegetable exports exceed $1 billion for first time
Vietnam exported a record $1.12 billion of fruit and vegetables in July 2026, the sector’s first month above $1 billion. EU sales reached about $214.4 million in the first half, supported by strong demand for processed products.
July exports set a monthly record
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached $1.12 billion in July 2026, the highest monthly value on record and the first time the sector exceeded $1 billion in a single month, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Over the first seven months, the category also contributed to a 28.1% increase in Vietnam’s total merchandise trade.
The record reflects growth across Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable business, but the European Union stands out for its product mix and value. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said exports to the EU totaled about $214.4 million in the first half of 2026, up 31.8% from the same period a year earlier. In June alone, shipments to the bloc increased 37.9% year on year.
Processed products drive EU penetration
Processed goods account for about 30.85% of Vietnam’s overall fruit and vegetable export value. In the EU, however, their share is nearly two-thirds. VietBao and the Government News reported that frozen, dried, puréed, juiced and crushed products are helping suppliers manage long shipping distances, comply with demanding standards and extract value from produce that does not meet visual specifications for the fresh market.
The shift also addresses Vietnam’s high post-harvest losses. Đặng Phúc Nguyên, secretary-general of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, put the country’s loss rate at 30-40%, around two to three times Thailand’s 10-15%. Airfreight for fresh produce to distant destinations such as the EU is expensive, while sea transport requires stringent preservation technology. Processing extends shelf life, reduces losses and broadens the usable raw-material base.
Export data show the strongest gains in several processed categories. Processed passion fruit generated $123.19 million, an increase of 37.5%. Processed potato exports rose 100.7%, while processed dragon fruit advanced 50.1%. In Germany, one of the EU’s largest markets, imports of processed fruit and vegetables from Vietnam increased 126% to €28.24 million during the first five months of 2026.
Standards and capacity remain constraints
Maintaining growth will require more than favorable demand. Nguyễn Thanh Bình, chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, identified technical standards, growing-area codes, packing-facility codes and limited investment capacity for deeper processing as continuing obstacles. Producers must also address heavy-metal accumulation in some growing areas as importing markets tighten sustainability and traceability requirements.
The association has called for simpler procedures for issuing growing-area and packing-facility codes. It also wants faster negotiations with China’s General Administration of Customs to expand the range of approved products and shorten customs-clearance times. Although the EU is the clearest example of the value gained through processing, access conditions in China remain important to the industry’s broader export performance.
Government policy is beginning to address some administrative bottlenecks. The prime minister has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to resolve procedural and land-related difficulties faced by companies and farmers. Resolution 36/2026/NQ-CP introduces a self-declaration and post-audit mechanism for growing-area codes, which is expected to reduce processing times. For exporters and processors, the next stage will depend on whether faster approvals are matched by investment in preservation, processing capacity and farm-level quality control.
