In July 2025, Vietnamese agricultural exports to China maintained positive growth, driven by ongoing bilateral trade agreements and increasing consumer demand in the vast Chinese market. China remains one of Vietnam’s largest agricultural export destinations, with key products including fresh fruits and vegetables such as durian, dragon fruit, banana, jackfruit, chili, and passion fruit.
Durian continues to lead export value, generating over 2.8 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting strong consumer preference in China. Other important products like dragon fruit, banana, and jackfruit also contribute significantly to export turnover.
A notable development in 2025 is the expansion of official export channels for several products, including chili, passion fruit, edible bird's nests, and rice bran. These agreements help reduce technical and quarantine barriers, facilitating smoother trade flows, enhancing quality control, and increasing consumer confidence in Chinese markets.
However, some fruits such as dragon fruit, rambutan, mango, lychee, longan, and jackfruit still largely depend on informal cross-border trade routes. This reliance limits quality control and the growth potential of formal export markets.
Meanwhile, China has tightened food safety regulations, especially concerning heavy metal residues like cadmium in durian and other fruits. Stricter inspections have temporarily reduced export volumes for some products earlier in 2025, underscoring the urgent need for Vietnamese producers to improve production standards, handling, and quality assurance from farm to export.
In the Chinese market, consumers increasingly demand high-quality, safe, and diverse agricultural products. Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to China reached approximately 4.6 billion USD in 2024, and this demand is expected to grow further in 2025, driven by rising incomes and preferences for fresh and processed foods. Regional trade agreements such as the ASEAN-China FTA and RCEP further support export competitiveness by lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
Despite the promising outlook, challenges remain due to continued reliance on unofficial trade channels, which limits sustainable market development and quality enforcement. Additionally, stricter Chinese food safety and phytosanitary standards require Vietnamese exporters to invest more in certified production, advanced processing technologies, and safe supply chains.
To sustain and develop this market, stakeholders should focus on:
- Scaling up production to meet international quality and safety standards.
- Expanding official export channels to enhance product credibility and market stability.
- Improving cold chain logistics and supply management to reduce post-harvest losses and preserve freshness.
- Strengthening trade promotion, brand building, and regional cooperation to ensure long-term sustainable growth.
Overall, the formalization of export channels combined with the large and increasingly quality-conscious Chinese consumer base offers a positive outlook for Vietnam’s agricultural exports. While challenges persist, enhanced cooperation, quality improvement, and innovative business models will be key to affirming Vietnam's agricultural sector’s position and increasing its export value in the Chinese market in the near future.
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