Vietnam import of fruits rises to half worth of exports
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In the January-August period, Vietnam's fruit exports reached more than one billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the country spent $529 million on imports of fruit, up 36.9 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam Customs
Vietnam bought fruits from 12 markets, with China and Thailand occupying the top places with significant increases in import volumes in the eight-month period.
Specifically, Vietnam imported $218.8 million worth of fruit and vegetables from Thailand in the period, a 62.4 percent rise year-on-year, and $125.2 million from China, up 27.5 percent year-on-year.
Collectively, Thailand and China accounted for 65 percent of Vietnam's total fruit imports in the first eight months.
Despite higher prices, imported fruits have increasingly won over Vietnamese consumers at a time when the food security of local produce remains a big issue, reported local Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper.
Many cases of fruits being grown or artificially ripened using chemicals have been unearthed in Vietnam, reducing consumer confidence in domestic fruits. ■