Vietnamese agricultural products gain firm foothold in global market

ABO/NDO- The year 2024 marked a bountiful harvest for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors in terms of volume and value. 

The total export turnover for these product groups reached 62.5 billion USD, up 18.7% compared to 2023 , the highest growth recorded in the past two decades.

Amid this bright outlook, the durian fruit unexpectedly rose to fame as a “shining star.” At certain times, demand for this item was so high that traders were queuing up in vain, unable to get their hands on any.

Until recently, Thailand had dominated the global durian market. However, Vietnam has overtaken it for the first time in terms of durian exports to China, a market that almost entirely drives the growth of this tropical fruit. Somehow, durian has defied the tightening spending tendency of Chinese consumers, even becoming a trendy choice among young people.

Durian emerges as the top export in the fruit and vegetable sector in 2024.

That said, no one knows how long the "durian craze" will last. Tastes may shift, demand can fluctuate, and many factors make it difficult for durian to gain global popularity or become a regular item on everyday menus.

If durian illustrates explosive appeal thanks to a trend, then coffee has conquered the world in a more enduring manner. Also a fruit of the tropics, coffee has become one of the most popular beverages worldwide, cutting across religious, geographic, and cultural boundaries. The story of coffee spans hundreds of years, and its distinct bitterness continues to be cherished globally.

Among coffee-importing countries, Germany stands out as a key market for Vietnam. Vietnamese coffee exports to Germany have remained stable and consistently increased. It’s hard to imagine a German morning without a hot cup of coffee. In the 1970s, when global coffee production plummeted due to natural disasters, East Germany faced a severe coffee shortage. Some factories even threatened to strike if they weren’t supplied with enough of their “morning beverage”.

From durian to coffee, Vietnam holds distinct advantages. Its export volumes are among the highest globally, steadily gaining market share and progressing towards a more influential voice in the global arena.

The world is undergoing profound transformations, and competition goes beyond technology and politics, extending even to morning cups of coffee and afternoon segments of durian. People discuss new tariffs over coffee and ponder trade imbalances while enjoying freshly opened durian. Amid all the disputes, essential needs persist.

(Source: NDO)