Vietnam prepared to export fresh coconut and frozen durian to China
VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Plant Protection Department has recently requested localities make the best preparations possible for their fresh coconut and frozen durian which will be officially exported to China as soon as a protocol is signed by the two sides.
In a dispatch dated March 26, the department asked localities to review and make lists of growing areas and packaging facilities in order for fresh coconut and frozen durian to be exported to China.
It also required that local relevant agencies notify and guide organisations and individuals to register any growing areas and packaging facilities which are eligible to meet export standards.
Currently, the Plant Protection Department is facilitating the process of opening the market for fresh coconut and frozen durian to be officially shipped to China.
According to the draft protocol, businesses are able to export green unhusked and husked coconut, unhusked durian, durian puree, and durian flesh to the Chinese market.
Frozen durian packaging facilities must fully meet food hygiene and safety, as well as packaging processes and product traceability requirements.
For fresh coconut growing areas, measures must be taken to control 16 harmful organisms of China’s concern, such as coconut beetles, whiteflies, mealybugs, and red palm weevils.
China agreed to officially import fresh Vietnamese durian in July 2022, and it has since become the largest consumer of the Vietnamese fruit. Last year alone saw the northern neighbour import nearly US$2.2 billion worth of the product from Vietnam, representing a five-fold increase compared to the previous year.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that if the protocol is signed this year, then fresh and frozen durian will bring in about US$3.5 billion in export value.
Similarly, the country will earn US$500 million to US$600 million from fresh coconut exports to China.
So far, a total of 13 Vietnamese agricultural products are allowed to officially enter the Chinese market, namely dragon fruit, mangoes, watermelons, lychees, longans, bananas, jackfruit, rambutans, passion fruit, mangosteen, durians, sweet potatoes, and bird’s nests.
