A series of free trade agreements and their associated reduced duties caused Vietnam's fruit imports to skyrocket in the first seven months of the year, according to website Vnexpress.net. 

Imports rose 36% year-on-year over the period to US$421 million, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Thailand was the country's main supplier, with imports growing a significant 70% to reach US$163 million.

China was the second-largest shipper with US$102.52 million, followed by the U.S. with US$41.2 million.

Imports from Australia also surged 212% to hit US$27 million.

Vietnam has abolished import taxes for most fruit from China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the ASEAN-China FTA and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.

The story added that at Lang Son Province's customs department, Vietnam imported 4,800 metric tons (MT) of small mangoes from China between February and July this year.

The declared import price at was around VND3,600 (US$0.16 per kilo) but the fruit was sold for up to VND35,000 (US$1.58) in Ho Chi Minh City.

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