lychees

Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports have risen since November last year, but the country can only meet around half the demand for its produce due to severe weather conditions hampering its production.

The country's north has seen virtually no rain since September, while severe flooding in the central provinces have also had an adverse effect on agriculture.

Vietnam's most popular export products are pureed fruits, sliced pineapples, lychees and green dragon fruit.

Since lifting its import ban on Vietnamese green dragon fruit in October, Japan has agreed to import 1-2 tonnes of the fruit at US$8-10 per kg, making it potentially Vietnam's most profitable market.

The Vietnamese Plant Protection Department (PPD) have also been campaigning to clear dragon fruit for export to the Republic of Korea, Vietnam Net reported.

According to PPD deputy director Dam Quoc Tru, new ways of treating pests have helped increase exports to highly demanding markets such as Taiwan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports to China are estimated to be worth US$50m annually and the country is Vietnam's leading export destination, followed by the US, Russia, Japan and Taiwan.

Vietnam now exports around 47 products to the US, with the potential for much more, but strict requirements on food safety and hygiene remain a barrier to increased trade.