Markets & Exports

Vietnam grows about 2.75 million tonnes of bananas a year and its fresh banana exports are growing fast, yet almost all of the value still sits in fresh fruit sold to one main market. Meanwhile, Europe, the United States and Japan buy aseptic banana puree for juices, smoothies, yoghurt, ice cream, bakery and baby food, mainly from Latin America. This article brings together the data on banana puree: what the product is, where it is used, what the market looks like, the standards and tariffs, and why Vietnam needs an export banana puree plant. Key points Vietnamese bananas in 2025: about 163,000 ha and 2.75 million tonnes; exports of about USD 405 million, mostly fresh fruit. China bought 685,579 tonnes,…

Vietnam grows about 52,000 ha of pineapple, yet the MD2 variety, which holds 70–75% of the European pineapple market, accounts for less than 5% of that area. Meanwhile, import duties on pineapple juice vary sharply by product form: the same Vietnamese pineapple juice can face 40% or 0% in South Korea, and 23% or 4.6% in Japan. This article brings together the duties, standards and growing-area requirements for exported pineapple juice in seven markets, and explains why MD2 growing areas are the first condition. Key points For pineapple juice, the product form decides the duty rate. Concentrate has the edge over NFC in South Korea (0% versus 40%), Saudi Arabia (5% versus 10%) and the United States (concentrate of more…

Vietnam is currently the world's largest exporter of passion fruit pulp and concentrated passion fruit juice, according to CBI, the import promotion agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The advantage is real, but each market sets different barriers: tariffs, minimum Brix, pesticide residues and, increasingly, questions about growing areas. This article brings those requirements together for six markets: the EU, the United States, China, the Middle East, Japan and South Korea. Key points Vietnamese passion fruit juice enters the EU, Japan, South Korea, China and the UAE duty-free (0%) under free trade agreements. The United States applies an additional 12.5% under Section 301 on top of the MFN duty from 24 July 2026; Saudi Arabia applies 5%. The…

The first question when considering MD2 pineapple exports is not price but whether fresh Vietnamese pineapple is permitted to enter the target market at all. As of October 2026, the official list kept by the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection on importing countries' phytosanitary conditions does not include pineapple for any market. This article sets out which markets are open and which are not, the commercial quality standards for fresh fruit, and why processed pineapple is the more realistic route in the short term. Key points Fresh Vietnamese pineapple is not yet permitted into the United States, China or Australia. For Japan and South Korea there is no written confirmation, although trade data show some small shipments. The…

The United States is the world's largest pineapple importer, at about 1.21 million tonnes in 2024. But Vietnamese fresh MD2 pineapple is currently not allowed into the US. This article separates two routes: processed pineapple, which can be shipped now at clearly defined duty rates; and the path to market access for fresh pineapple, following the exact procedure Indonesia went through in 2024–2025. It also places Vietnam alongside its main competitor, Costa Rica. Key points Vietnamese fresh pineapple is not on the list of products allowed into the US. The US authorises pineapple imports country by country, through a pest risk analysis (PRA) and public consultation. The general (MFN) duty on fresh pineapple is very low (0.44–1.1 cents/kg) and exempt…

Vietnam is the world's 12th-largest pineapple producer according to FAOSTAT, yet it does not appear in FAO's table of pineapple exporting countries. The gap lies in yield, in variety (MD2 accounts for less than 5% of planted area), and in the fact that Vietnamese fresh pineapple has not yet gained access to the major markets. This article places Vietnam alongside the leading pineapple producing and exporting countries, mostly growing MD2, based on FAO data. Key points The world produced 29.37 million tonnes of pineapple in 2024; Costa Rica, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and China lead. Exports, by contrast, are highly concentrated: Costa Rica shipped about 2.4 million tonnes (2024), roughly 60% of world exports; the Philippines ranks second. Vietnam: about…

"How much does MD2 pineapple cost?" has three different answers, depending on where you stand in the chain: the farm-gate price in Vietnam, the import and wholesale price in consuming markets, and the price of pineapple juice concentrate for processing plants. This article compiles sourced prices and states their dates, because pineapple prices swing sharply with the season and with world supply. Key points The farm-gate price of MD2 in Vietnam in 2026 ranges from about VND 7,000–9,000/kg in areas with offtake linkages; at times it drops lower during the harvest peak. The average export unit value is about USD 595/tonne for Costa Rica and about USD 668/tonne for the Philippines (first 9 months of 2025, FAO). The average wholesale…

For exported agricultural products, "standing out" rarely comes from attractive packaging or a clever slogan. Overseas buyers compare your shipment with those of dozens of other suppliers along two axes: what they receive and what they have to give up, including the risk of the shipment being held at the port. A product only truly stands out when it has an advantage that competitors find hard to copy, and the company can prove that advantage. This article applies the tools of a strategic marketing textbook (the value map, the competitive advantage tests, the positioning statement, branding) to the context of Vietnamese agricultural products, with sourced figures. Key points Value in the eyes of the buyer is "what is received" divided…