Fruits and Vegetables in Vietnam - International Food Policy ...
Fruits and Vegetables in Vietnam - International Food Policy ...
Fruits and Vegetables in Vietnam - International Food Policy ...
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3.3 Japan<br />
In the long term, Japan is a market of great potential. Japan imports US$ 5.8 billion <strong>in</strong> fruits<br />
<strong>and</strong> vegetables, mak<strong>in</strong>g it the fourth largest importer <strong>in</strong> the world. The Japanese market is the most<br />
important dest<strong>in</strong>ation for Thai fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables, import<strong>in</strong>g US$ 50-60 million of fresh fruits <strong>and</strong><br />
vegetables <strong>and</strong> US$ 60-80 million of processed fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables.<br />
At present, <strong>Vietnam</strong>'s fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable export value to Japan is modest. In 1999 it was US$<br />
11.7 million USD <strong>in</strong> 2000, much lower than the fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable export value of Taiwan, Korea,<br />
southeast Asian countries, <strong>and</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a to this market (see Table 6-3). The biggest difficulty <strong>in</strong> export<strong>in</strong>g<br />
fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables to Japan's market is that this market has very strict requirements on quality, food<br />
safety <strong>and</strong> hygiene, product forms, <strong>and</strong> styles. Moreover, there is strong competition among<br />
suppliers.<br />
However, the potential for fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable export to Japan is great. Experience <strong>in</strong>dicates<br />
that the best way to penetrate the Japanese market is by cooperat<strong>in</strong>g with Japanese companies to<br />
obta<strong>in</strong> guidance <strong>in</strong> select<strong>in</strong>g crop varieties, production methods, process<strong>in</strong>g, pack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> deliver<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Some <strong>Vietnam</strong>ese companies have applied this approach, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g firms <strong>in</strong> Nam D<strong>in</strong>h, Ho Chi M<strong>in</strong>h<br />
City, <strong>and</strong> Da Lat. It is estimated that the fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable export value to Japan can reach US$ 150-<br />
200 million <strong>in</strong> 2010.<br />
Box 6-2. Eggplants for export<br />
Farmers <strong>in</strong> Tan Ulyen district of B<strong>in</strong>h Duong prov<strong>in</strong>ce have been work<strong>in</strong>g with a Japanese company to<br />
produce eggplants (auberg<strong>in</strong>es) for local consumption <strong>and</strong> for export. Under the scheme, Japan’s Matuso<br />
Company provides credit, successful stra<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ardized pesticides, while the Tan Ba cooperative<br />
provides technical assistance, <strong>and</strong> farmers implement the plan us<strong>in</strong>g their l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> labor.<br />
Each hectare yields about 15 tons of eggplants which sell for about VND 3000 per kg. This implies an<br />
average revenue of about VND 45 million per hectare. Production costs are high, though, <strong>and</strong> Matsuo<br />
advances farmers about VND 20 million per hectare to cover the cost of <strong>in</strong>puts.<br />
The company h<strong>and</strong>les all post-harvest operations, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g salt<strong>in</strong>g, spic<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> cold storage. The<br />
eggplants are sold to restaurants (particularly those serv<strong>in</strong>g Japanese food) <strong>and</strong> supermarkets <strong>in</strong> <strong>Vietnam</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> some is exported directly to Japan.<br />
Source: <strong>Vietnam</strong> News Service, October 23, 2001<br />
3.4 ASEAN countries<br />
The ASEAN countries are currently of modest importance to <strong>Vietnam</strong>ese fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable<br />
exporters 4 . S<strong>in</strong>gapore, Malaysia, <strong>and</strong> Indonesia imported US$ 1-2 million each of <strong>Vietnam</strong>ese fruits<br />
<strong>and</strong> vegetables <strong>in</strong> 2000. The advantages <strong>in</strong> export<strong>in</strong>g fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables to ASEAN countries are<br />
4 Some sources <strong>in</strong>clude spices (particularly pepper) <strong>in</strong> the statistics for fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables. Under this<br />
broader def<strong>in</strong>ition, S<strong>in</strong>gapore is an important market, import<strong>in</strong>g over US$ 50 million <strong>in</strong> <strong>Vietnam</strong>ese fruits,<br />
vegetables, <strong>and</strong> spices.<br />
Chapter 6. Fruit <strong>and</strong> vegetable exports Page 6-8