Vietnam’s import market matures

Vietnam has been a market of interest for global fresh produce suppliers for some time. However, the market is changing. Recent shifts towards more value-orientated offerings, combined with rapid growth in modern retailing – including e-commerce and social media – and a push into second and third-tier cities, are providing opportunities for further expansion. These were some of the key takeaways from an Asiafruit Congress session spotlighting Vietnam at Asia Fruit Logistica. Hai Xuan Nguyen, chair of leading Vietnamese boutique fruit retailer Klever Fruit, said Vietnam’s economy has shown robust growth over the past few decades, with an average real growth rate of 6.1 per cent over ten years (2012 to 2022). While this growth slowed to 5 per cent in 2023, forecasts suggest an increase to 6 per cent for 2024 – a sign of sustained momentum despite global economic uncertainty. According to Nguyen, Vietnam’s population spends around 13 per cent of its income on fresh fruit and ...