Fruit and vegetable exports earned revenue of $1.39 billion in the first four months of this year, for a year-on-year increase of 19.4 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Products posting strong growth included dragon fruit, durian, mangoes, and jack fruit.

China remained Vietnam’s top export market, with a market share of 58.7 per cent, followed by Laos, South Korea, and Japan.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Vegetable and Fruit Dang Phuc Nguyen said exports increased sharply after Vietnam signed protocols exporting durian, sweet potatoes, and bananas to China, grapefruit to the US, and lemons to New Zealand.

The volume of harvested fruit is expected to reach 2.6 million tons in the second quarter of this year, according to MARD.

Exports of fruit and vegetables are forecast to hit $4 billion in 2023.