HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports hit a monthly record of US$1.12 billion in July, with deeper processing helping exporters overcome logistical hurdles in distant markets such as the European Union (EU) and raise the added value of shipments.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said July saw the highest monthly export value ever recorded, driven by growing demand for processed products and stronger access to high-value markets.

Total shipments reached $4.83 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 24.9 per cent from a year earlier.

The ministry said the results reflected the improving competitiveness of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables as markets tighten quality and origin requirements.

Exports to the EU reached about $214.4 million in the first six months of 2026, up 31.8 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association. Shipments to the bloc rose 37.9 per cent year-on-year in June alone.

Notably, processed products accounted for nearly two-thirds of Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports to the bloc, compared with about 30.85 per cent of the entire industry, highlighting the growing importance of value-added processing in penetrating demanding markets.

“Deep processing is becoming an important gateway for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter demanding, high-value supply chains,” the association’s general secretary Đặng Phúc Nguyên said.

Statistics showed that exports of processed produce are expanding rapidly.

Exports of processed passion fruit rose 37.5 per cent to $123.19 million, while processed potatoes jumped 100.7 per cent and processed dragon fruit increased 50.1 per cent.

In Germany, imports of processed fruit and vegetables from Việt Nam surged 126 per cent to 28.24 million euros in the first five months of 2026.

Despite the strong growth, the industry continues to face technical standards, traceability and production infrastructure challenges, as well as limited investment in deep processing, Nguyễn Thanh Bình, the association’s president, said.

The association has called for simplified procedures for issuing growing-area and packing-facility codes, as well as faster negotiations with China to facilitate customs clearance and expand the list of products eligible for export.

It also urged authorities to expand the number of approved growing areas and address heavy-metal accumulation in soil in fruit-producing regions to ensure produce can meet increasingly stringent sustainability requirements.

The association expects stronger government support to encourage businesses to invest in processing facilities. — VNS