Thailand spent US$97 million importing Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits in the first half of this year, double the amount from the same period last year, Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday.

Thailand is a leading agricultural product producer in the world and a rival of Vietnam in vegetable and fruit export, Nguyen noted.

Thailand has spent big on Vietnam’s farm produce, including frozen durians, dragon fruits, longans, and lychees.

Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to Thailand are currently higher than the country’s total vegetable and fruit shipments to the remaining ASEAN markets, the official reported.

Explaining why Thailand imports Vietnam’s durians despite being a large durian exporter, Nguyen said that Thailand’s durian crop lasts only four months per year, whereas Vietnam can supply durians year-round.

Severe droughts have affected the quality and output of durians in Thailand, requiring imports to meet the demands of local consumers and tourists.

Thailand may also process durians imported from Vietnam for re-export to third markets, likely China.

A representative of a fruit export company in Ho Chi Minh City noted that this is a normal trade and demand-supply issue. He added that Vietnam has abundant supplies of vegetables and fruits, with its traditional and potential markets showing growth.

Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trade partner in ASEAN. It has recently increased vegetable and fruit imports from Vietnam as it had a poor durian crop given unfavorable weather conditions this year. 

Thailand overtook China to become the largest supplier of vegetables and fruits to Vietnam in 2014. It maintained the position until 2019 with a value of over $464 million.

After a decade, Thailand is now the fourth-largest buyer of Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits.

Vietnam exported over $3.8 billion worth of vegetable and fruit products in January-July, up 23.4 percent year on year.

The figure is expected to hit $7 billion this year, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association.

The 10 largest buyers of Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits reported a growth rate of 15-96 percent each, with China being the largest importer. 

The northern neighbor spent $2.1 billion on Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits, rising 22 percent over the same period last year and accounting for 64 percent of Vietnam’s total vegetable and fruit shipments.

China was followed by South Korea with $164 million and the U.S. with $157 million, surging 55 and 33 percent, respectively.

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