According to statistics from the Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, in the first four months of 2025, areca nuts emerged as the commodity with the highest import growth rate. It witnessed a staggering 1,303% surge compared to the same period last year, reaching a value of $11.334 million.
On the flip side, Vietnam’s exports of areca nuts during this period were rather modest, amounting to approximately $730,000. It is estimated that the total exports for the first four months of the year will reach about $1 million. In contrast, the country’s areca nut export turnover reached $34.93 million in 2024, marking an impressive 83% increase from 2023.

Dried Areca Nuts
Speaking to the Laborer Newspaper on June 25, Mr. Nguyen Van Muoi, Vice Secretary-General of the Vietnam Vegetables and Fruits Association, revealed that the majority of imported areca nuts are re-exported to China, a significant consumer market. In contrast, domestic consumption demands remain relatively limited.
“The price of areca nuts has surged in the past two years due to natural disasters in Hainan Island, China’s main areca nut-growing region, which caused extensive damage to the crops,” Mr. Muoi explained. “Faced with a supply shortage, China had to turn to Vietnam for alternative sources.”
However, domestic production couldn’t meet the demand, prompting Vietnamese enterprises to import additional areca nuts from Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Indonesia to cater to the Chinese market.

Fresh Areca Nuts
The areca nut harvesting season in Vietnam commences in July and extends until the end of the year. The growing regions are scattered across the Central, Highlands, and Mekong Delta regions.
According to Mr. Muoi, areca nut trees are not suitable for specialized cultivation due to the unstable market. Their prices only surge when the Chinese market encounters disruptions in domestic supply. “China will only ramp up imports from Vietnam when their main growing region in Hainan encounters problems,” he analyzed.
Nonetheless, areca nut trees are easy to cultivate and require minimal maintenance. They are often grown by locals as fences, for landscaping purposes, and to generate additional income during periods of sudden increases in demand and buying prices.
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