Hanoi (VNA) – Industry insiders have shown theirconfidence in exporting 4 billion USD worth of fruits and vegetables this year givenrosy signs recorded recently.

China, the biggest market of Vietnamese fruits andvegetables, reopened its borders in the beginning of 2023, givingVietnam a number of opportunities to increase shipments there. Particularly,fruit export holds many chances as this market always has high demand for farmproduce imports.

Besides,during an official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongin October 2022, protocols were signed to boost the export of an array ofVietnam’s agricultural products via the official channel to China, opening thedoor wider for fruits to enter this market.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the VietnamFruit Association, said with China’s complete re-opening of borders, businessesnow have many export advantages and can cut down expenses. Goods will beexported in bigger volumes and enjoy faster customs clearance, which will help guaranteeproduct quality better.

Some industriesare forecast to be hit hard by inflation, but the fruit and vegetable sectorwill not be affected that much, he said, noting that this year’s export valuemay grow by some 20% to 4 billion USD from nearly 3.4 billion USD in 2022.

In 2022,durian shipments alone brought home over 420 million USD, mostly in the fourthquarter, after the fruit had gained the green light to enter China via theofficial channel.

Durianexports to China are likely to generate 1 billion USD in 2023. Added with the 3billion USD in revenue like last year, total fruit and vegetable exports canreach 4 billion USD, Nguyen went on.

Not only China, the EU has also removed four herbs of Vietnamfrom the list of those controlled at a frequencyof 50%,namely parsley, coriander, basil, and mint.

It is expected to help boost the recovery of herbproduction and export to the EU, Nguyen said.

In addition,the return of the International Exhibition & Conference for Horticulturaland Floricultural Production and Professing Technology in Vietnam, to be heldin Ho Chi Minh City in early March, after a two-year hiatus caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic is also hoped to open up numerous opportunities for the sector.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, General Director of Vina T&T Group,said that in January, his firm saw a year-on-year increase of 30% in the numberof fruit export orders. Notably, the shipments of pomelo to the US and durianto China contributed much to this growth.

Given this,the company is confident in achieving the growth target of 30 - 40% in 2023, henoted.

Sharing the belief in a bright export outlook, NgoTuong Vy, General Director of the Chanh Thu Fruit Export - Import Co. Ltd, saidVietnamese durian has entered China much later than that from Thailand and Malaysia,but its quality is comparable to the rivals’. This is a basis for thebusiness to continue improving quality and then export volume.

The Chanh Thu company is completely able to double its duriansales to China in 2023, she added./.