Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese exporters are having high hopes for recovering exports this year following slashed import tariff imposed on Vietnamese products in several large markets such as Japan and China.

Fruits, seafood and textiles and garments are the most promising products to score big in overseas markets.

Japan lifted its ban on imports of Vietnamese dragon fruit on October 20, 2009, making the fruit the first Vietnamese fresh fruit to win access to the world’s second largest consumer market.

Early 2009, Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports to the U.S. were resumed after grinding to a halt in December last year when the country’s only irradiation plant recognized by U.S. health agency suspended its service for maintenance.

Binh Duong Province-based Yasaka Fruit Processing Company deputy director, Nguyen Hong Hung, said the company exported some 1-2 tons of dragon fruits a day to Japan.

He said the company was planning for dragon fruit exports to Taiwan and South Korean.

Opportunities are also available to Vietnamese fruit exporters in China as thousands of exported items will enjoy tax cut this year under the commitments of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit) chairman, Dinh Van Huong, said Russia had recently emerged as one of the five largest importers of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables.

He said the Russian market favored Vietnamese pineapple, cucumber and processed tomato the most.

Fruit and vegetables exports are expected to grow by 5-6 percent year-on-year to earn US$450-460 million this year, according to Huong.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said seafood exports had shown signs of recovery since the third quarter of 2009.

The textile and garment sector has set the target of $10.5 billion in export value this year, with the U.S., the EU and Japan considered the most promising markets.