According to Chinese customs data, the three largest fruit and vegetable suppliers to this market of over a billion consumers are Thailand with 5.08 billion dollars, Chile with 2.28 billion dollars, and Vietnam with 2.16 billion dollars. Although still ranked third, Vietnam's growth rate is significantly higher than that of its two closest rivals. Vietnam's market share in China has risen from 13.8 percent to nearly 15.8 percent, while Chile recorded a decline in export value compared with the same period last year. The gap between the two countries now stands at less than one percentage point of market share, suggesting Vietnam has a real chance of overtaking Chile for second place if this growth momentum continues.
Notably, the growth rate of Vietnam fruit and vegetable exports to China currently exceeds the overall growth rate of China's total fruit and vegetable import demand. Within the export structure, fresh, dried, and frozen fruit reached around 1.63 billion dollars, up 17 percent, accounting for more than 80 percent of the total fruit and vegetable export value to this market.
Within the overall export structure, durian is the single largest contributor to the sector's growth. Fresh and frozen durian alone reached nearly 988 million dollars in the first half of the year, up 43.4 percent year over year, accounting for close to half of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export value to China.
Alongside durian, not every product category grew at the same pace. Mango, dragon fruit, and banana all recorded declines during this period, while coconut posted strong growth. Processed fruit and vegetable products are also showing new growth potential, opening up an additional direction for exporters beyond traditional fresh fruit categories.
As the scale of Vietnam fruit and vegetable exports to China expands, quality control requirements from the importing country are also being tightened. China is now enforcing stricter controls on growing area and packing facility codes, quarantine and food safety procedures, traceability capability, and product quality throughout storage and transport.
Alongside tighter quality controls, the two countries are also continuing to expand the list of agricultural products eligible for official export channels through new protocols. This is an important condition that gives more Vietnamese agricultural products the opportunity to formally access the Chinese market, rather than relying on informal export channels that carry higher risks around pricing and customs procedures.
With 2.16 billion dollars in export value over six months and nearly 16 percent market share, China remains a key market for Vietnam's fruit and vegetable sector. However, as export scale continues to grow, logistics capability, storage, and quality control throughout the entire transport journey will increasingly determine the ability to maintain and expand market share.
This is especially true for products like frozen durian and fresh fruit, where maintaining a stable temperature throughout road and sea transport is a critical factor in preserving quality by the time goods reach the importing partner. Exporters need to work closely with transport providers experienced in handling agricultural cargo, ensuring the process from packing and cold storage through to customs clearance runs smoothly, avoiding delays that could affect product quality.
Amid the strong growth trend in Vietnam fruit and vegetable exports to China, demand for transporting agricultural goods, particularly cold chain products like durian, is also rising. With more than 15 years of experience in sea freight, domestic transport, container shipping, and customs declaration services, VDM Forwarder understands the specific requirements involved in transporting agricultural exports to the Chinese market.
The VDM Forwarder team continuously stays updated on new regulations regarding quarantine, growing area codes, and traceability, while coordinating closely with all relevant parties to ensure goods are transported on schedule and maintain their quality throughout the journey. If your business needs to transport agricultural products or fruit for export to China or other markets, VDM Forwarder is ready to advise on the right logistics solution and provide a detailed quote through the hotline or official contact channels.
Receive shipping service price lists and optimal logistics solution advice from our experts.
We are always ready to advise and support you 24/7.
