Fruit and vegetable export will decrease by 11.5% in quarter I / 2020 as the COVID-19 epidemic spreads worldwide

While the export of fruits and vegetables to China has gradually stabilized, the prospects of exporting to other markets are not optimistic, because the COVID-19 epidemic has spread to many major markets in the world such as: Europe. Europe, America, Japan, Korea …

The Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), citing statistics from the General Department of Customs, said that in the first 15 days of March, 2020 the export of  vegetables and fruits  reached US $ 152.5 million, up 4.8% compared to 15. first day of March 2019.

Accumulated from the beginning of the year to the end of March 15, 2020, export of fruits and vegetables reached 681.7 million USD, down 6.3% as compared to the same period in 2019. According to estimates, in March 2020, export of goods fruits and vegetables reached 300 million USD, up 18.2% compared to February 2020, but down 15.8% compared to March 2019.

Accordingly, for the first 3 months of 2020, exports of fruits and vegetables are estimated at US $ 831 million, down 11.5% compared to the first 3 months of 2019.

According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), vegetable and fruit export in the first 3 months of 2020 decreased compared to the same period in 2019 mainly due to a sharp decline in exports to the largest market of China when the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in this country.

China accounts for a high proportion of Vietnam’s total exports of fruits and vegetables, so an increase in exports to other markets does not offset the sharp decline from this market.

Specifically, in the first two months of 2020, exports of fruits and vegetables to the Chinese market reached US $ 300.3 million, down 29.4% over the same period in 2019 due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. By the beginning of March 2020, most of the land border gates were reopened, so the export of vegetables and fruits to the Chinese market gradually recovered.

However, the Import-Export Department said that in order to export vegetables and fruits stably, businesses need to restrict export across borders in the context of complicated COVID-19 epidemic, instead of negotiating instead. with partners to export in the form of official quotas, proactively apply ready-to-change measures such as changing stamps on traceability, ensuring food safety …

Export of fruits and vegetables to the 10 largest markets in February and the first 2 months of 2020. Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade / General Department of Customs.

Notably, although exports of fruits and vegetables to the Chinese market plummeted in the first two months of 2020, exports to most other markets increased sharply.

Accordingly, exports of fruits and vegetables to Thailand, Korea, Laos, Australia, Taiwan and Russia in the first two months of 2020 increased sharply compared to the same period in 2019.

Specifically, vegetables and fruits exported to Thailand in the first two months of 2020 reached US $ 35.2 million, up 365.8% over the same period in 2019; exports to Laos reached US $ 9.7 million, up 270.4%; export to Taiwan market was 8.9 million USD, up 112.4%; export to Russia reached USD 8.2 million, increased by 246.1% …

However, by early March 2020, while exporting fruits and vegetables to China gradually stabilized, the prospect of exporting vegetables and fruits to other markets is not very optimistic, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. spreading to many major markets in the world such as Europe, America, Japan, Korea …

In the context of COVID-19 epidemic, unpredictable developments, processed products will be consumed more, so enterprises exporting fruits and vegetables should study to prepare sources of goods to boost exports in the coming time. The Import and Export Department recommends enterprises.

Source: https://vietnambiz.vn