According to statistics from the Vietnam Customs Department, in the first 9 months of 2025, fresh limes were among the top 10 fruit items with the highest export value, reaching 62.6 million USD. This is an increase of over 28% compared to the same period last year. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, this fruit brought in 18.4 million USD for Vietnam, a 22% increase compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Currently, Vietnamese limes have been exported to 41 countries and territories, including familiar markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Oman, the Maldives, and Singapore.
Long An is now the heart of limes, accounting for up to 1/6 of the country’s total output. The entire province has over 11,720 hectares of lime trees, producing over 97,700 tons annually.
Vietnamese limes are favored for their outstanding flavor compared to ones from other countries. Many businesses import limes for reexport to other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, or Qatar. Vietnamese limes have almost no competitors.
Limes from Vietnam are exported to major markets.
Seedless limes from Vietnam are green. Yellow lemons in the Gulf market can be imported from India or South Africa. In the Middle East, limes and lemons are not interchangeable. Lime is used for dishes that need aroma and especially for making drinks.
Many locals said that “Vietnamese limes are very popular because they are seedless and have a very pure fragrance. Especially, consumption is high during the hot season.”
In addition to Middle Eastern countries, seedless limes are exported to major markets in Europe and Asia.
In New Zealand, the tourism and hospitality industry is growing well, so the demand for both cuisine and the quality of consumer products is quite high. Former New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms. Tredene Dobson, said that Vietnamese limes are like “green gold” in New Zealand because of their high selling price. Because they can’t be grown here, a kilogram of limes costs over 50 NZD, equivalent to 31.1 USD (over 850,000 VND).
In Vietnam, lime is a very common and indispensable ingredient in restaurants.
Vietnam also exports processed lime products, particularly lime leaves, with a turnover of 781,000 USD in the first 9 months of the year. This is a significant increase of 78% compared to the same period last year. According to the e-commerce site Amazon, dried lime leaves are sold for about 7 USD for 25 grams, which is equivalent to 635,000 VND per 100 grams.
The strong growth in export turnover shows the enormous potential of non-traditional agricultural products when properly oriented and processed to meet international demand.