Thai fruits dominate Vietnam market

Thai fruits dominate Vietnam market

Vietnam imported more fruits from Thailand in September which has caused the kingdom to overtake China as its neighbour's chief supplier.

Fruits and vegetables from Thailand accounted for US$9.24 million (303 million baht) in trade in September, according to statistics from the Vietnamese Customs Department obtained by the Bangkok Post.

The imports totalled $133 million for the first nine months of this year.

Vietnam imported Chinese fruits and vegetables worth $16 million in September, which lifted the total trade since January to $99 million, the Vietnamese agency said.

Thanh Nien said on Tuesday that the figures made Thailand the number one supplier of fruits and vegetables to Vietnam. Thai vegetables and fruits controlled 34.2% of the market share in the country compared with 23% from China, the Vietnamese online daily added.

Mangosteens, durians, longans and mangos are among the most popular fruits from Thailand, according to Lek 63, a firm based in Mukdahan province which exports fruits to Vietnam, as well as China.

Lek Naruson, the company owner, told the Post on Thursday that the export of mangosteens to Vietnam this year had hit an unprecedented high.

Mr Lek said the fruit market in Vietnam had the potential to expand by 20% due to the growing middle class in Vietnam which spurs spending. It benefits Thailand even though the prices for Thai fruits were higher, he added.

A key to success for Thailand is to maintain the quality of fruit for export and avoid flooding the market with low quality produce to increase market share, he said.

The firm exports fruit to Vietnam by land through Savannakhet province in Laos.

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