Vietnam officially exports first batch of bird's nests to China

The shipment was conducted under a protocol signed between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Department of Customs of China on November 9, 2022.

According to the document, Avanest Vietnam Nutrition Joint Stock Company is the first business to be granted a code specifically for exporting two bird's nest products - refined bird's nest and pre-cooked bird's nests - to the Chinese market.

Speaking the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien noted that China is a large market of more than 1.4 billion consumers and this is also the world's largest market for bird's nest products, consuming more than 300 tonnes per year, or about 80% of the global market share.

Despite huge demand, the northern neighbour’s bird's nest exploitation output remains limited, prompting businesses to import large quantities of bird’s nests from other countries.

China allowing imports of the nation’s bird's nest products not only creates a wealth of opportunities, but also poses challenges for businesses as they are required to innovate technology to meet the stringent requirements set by import markets, said Tien.  

For his part, Tong Xuan Chinh, deputy director of the Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stressed that the export of bird’s nest products is of great significance for the Vietnamese livestock industry following a long period of decline due to COVID-19, and this also marks an important milestone in the country’s bird's nest industry.

However, Chinh still advised local businesses to fully meet requirements set by China in terms of health quarantine, food safety, and origin traceability to export their products to the market in a sustainable manner.