The Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry saw exports rise by almost half year-on-year in the first six months of 2017 to reach US$1.85 billion, website Vietnamplus.vn reported. 

The story reported General Department of Vietnam Customs data showed good expansion in exports traditional markets like Japan (+56%) and China (+50%), but there were shipment declines elsewhere such as Cambodia (-82%), Indonesia (-53%) and the U.K. (-42%).

The publication highlighted dragon fruit represented half the export value, while mangoes, litchis and longans continue to be the Southeast Asian country's "strategic staples".

The story reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was in negotiations for gaining access to the Japanese litchi market, while negotiations would continue for establishing protocols for longan exports to Australia and New Zealand. 

The country has already been successful with export protocols to Australia for litchis and mangoes.

"The first batch of 3.5 tonnes of mangoes from northern Son La province underwent irradiation treatment for shipment to Australia," the story reported.

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