The integrated model creates a closed value chain right at the gateway to the Mekong Delta, TPL CEO Vuong Hieu said, elaborating that instead of transporting goods to various sites, businesses could save their time and transport costs by having irradiation and cold storage at the same place, helping reduce the risk of supply chain disruption.

Besides, the model is expected to upgrade Vietnam’s existing export routes, further elevating the country’s agro-fishery product supply chain on the global stage, he added.

The Japanese partners, for their parts, hailed the partnership with the TPL, highlighting the company’s operational capacity. They described cold storage as a critical factor for the future growth of agricultural and aquatic exports, which require stringent temperature management.

With the adjacent irradiation facility of Toan Phat, one of the few licensed in Vietnam to irradiate fruit, this integrated model offers a unique one-stop solution in the market, Representative Director & President and CEO of MOL Logistics Co.,Ltd Osamu Sakurada said, stressing it will also help elevate Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure.

The Mekong Logistics Hub will continue perfecting its services to provide comprehensive supply chain services from irradiation and cold storage to domestic transport and seaport connectivity, helping shorten export routes, reduce costs, and increase competitiveness.

The alliance's long-term vision is to turn the Mekong Logistics Hub into a critical cold cargo transshipment centre for ASEAN, opening a new era where Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products are positioned for brand recognition and quality on the global map, and delivering on the goal of US$65 billion in agro-forestry-fishery exports this year.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Mekong Delta accounts for around 30% of southern Vietnam’s cold storage facilities and about half of the country’s total capacity, concentrated mainly in Tay Ninh.

Specialists from the Can Tho University said that cold-chain development is not only a technical necessity but also a strategic factor to improve competitive edge by connecting production with international markets. Despite rising demand, Vietnam’s cold-chain supply remains limited, leading to high logistics costs and undermined export competitiveness.

Toan Phat has been an early mover in this field. Since 2018, its irradiation facility in Tay Ninh has applied advanced technology recognised by such demanding markets as the US, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2023, the company launched a cold storage facility with a capacity of nearly 11,000 tonnes, creating a closed-loop irradiation – cold storage export service chain.

RoK to build a cold chain logistics centre in Hai Phong

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (RoK) announced on November 13 that Jeil Engineering and Construction is breaking ground on a cold chain logistics complex in Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park, Hai Phong.