Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese businessesare believed to possess opportunities, especially in niche markets, whenexporting fruit and vegetables to Northern Europe, according to the Cong Thuong(Industry & Trade) newspaper.

The Vietnamese trade office in Sweden said that dueto unfavourable weather conditions, Northern European countries very much dependon imported fruit and vegetables, with over 90 percent of fruit and 40 percentof vegetables coming from foreign sources.

The importation of tropical fruit has beengrowing quickly in recent years, opening up opportunities for both existing andnew exporters from developing countries, including Vietnam.

Developing countries account for more than 50percent of the supply of fruit such as papaya, mango, pineapple, dates,tamarind, and passionfruit imported to the market, and 30 percent of avocado,figs, melons, and grapes.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), whichtook effect on August 1, 2020, has also generated considerable advantages forVietnamese firms, as most tariffs on fresh fruit and vegetables have been slashedto zero percent, the trade office noted.

Despite the optimistic outlook, Cong Thuongwrote, the market is relatively small compared to others in Europe. It’s also noteasy for new exporters to compete with multilateral fruit and vegetable providers,logistics firms, and packaging companies with a long presence there.

Vegetables grown in Europe now account for 90percent of those imported into Northern Europe, while those from developingnations stand at less than 10 percent.

Off-season produce like tomatoes and bell peppersare often provided by countries near Northern Europe. Geographical distance anda lack of direct air routes to the region also pose certain difficulties for Vietnam’sfruit and vegetable exports.

The newspaper suggested Vietnamese companies considerproducing organic and convenience products, pointing out European consumers’increasing preference for healthy diets with clean and natural food, as well asthose that serve their busy lifestyles.

To make use of this trend, they should ensure thatproduct quality meets requirements, the article said.

It also noted that more attention needs to be paidto sustainable and responsible production and business practices, adding thatproducts will be accepted by Northern European consumers if they comply withsustainability standards.

Brand building and product storytelling are alsotools necessary for marketing new products, particularly those for niche markets,according to the paper./.