Vietnam spent over 772 million U.S. dollars on fruits and vegetables imports in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year jump of nearly 300 percent, local press reported Tuesday.
Thailand was the largest supplier of fruits and veggies for Vietnam during the reviewed period, with a total value of 125.1 million U.S. dollars, followed by China with 83.8 million U.S. dollars and Myanmar with 42.1 million U.S. dollars, which rose by 167 percent, 92 percent and 755 percent, respectively, over the same period last year, local Saigon Times daily quoted sources from the Ministry of Industry and Trade as saying.
Those products of China entered the local market via Lao Cai, Huu Nghi and Tan Thanh border gates and Chua Ve Port in the northern region.
Besides, the country also imported fruits and veggies worth 6.6 million U.S. dollars from New Zealand, 4.4 million U.S. dollars from South Africa, 3.1 million U.S. dollars from India, 2.7 million U.S. dollars from South Korea and 1.9 million U.S. dollars from Israel.
In addition, the country imported vegetable oil worth 459.4 million U.S. dollars, rising 14.16 percent against the same period last year, with Malaysia as the largest supplier making up 338.5 million U.S. dollars.
During the eight-month period, Vietnam's export revenues from fruits and veggies reached more than 1 billion U.S. dollars, up 47. 4 percent year on year, reported the ministry.