On August 19th, speaking to VietNamNet , Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung - General Director of Vina T&T Group - boasted that the company only exports fresh durian to China. However, this market has accounted for 20% of the company's total revenue in the past seven months.

Last year, Vina T&T Group signed an export order for durian with a Chinese partner. This year, the export value of this fruit continues to show very promising growth.

"At its peak, we shipped 1-2 containers of durian to China every day. Currently, the company exports about 10-15 containers of durian, each weighing 18 tons, to China each month," he said.

The protocol for the official export of fresh coconuts and durians to China has just been signed. Mr. Tung informed that the company is ready to export these two products in the final months of the year. He expects that the export value of agricultural products to the Chinese market will increase significantly in the near future.

Mr. Tran Van Duc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben Tre Coconut Investment Joint Stock Company, revealed that several partners in China have begun contacting him to learn more about and visit the factory and coconut products. He is confident that his company can meet the requirements for raw material sourcing and packaging facilities from China, given its experience in exporting fresh coconuts to many high-end markets worldwide.

According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, by the end of July this year, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports had earned nearly 3.9 billion USD, a sharp increase of 25.9% compared to the same period last year.

Exports to China alone reached nearly $2.5 billion, a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The Chinese market accounted for 64.1% of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export turnover in the first seven months of 2024.

Among agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products exported to the world's most populous country, fruits and vegetables rank first in terms of export value. Simultaneously, China is also the largest customer for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables.

Currently, Vietnam has 14 agricultural products that are officially exported to the Chinese market, including: fresh durian, sweet potato, dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, lychee, passion fruit, frozen durian, and fresh coconut.

Discussing the potential for exporting fruits and vegetables to China, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, stated that with a population of over 1.4 billion people and a growing middle class, China is a large market for many types of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables.

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Vietnam now has another product, frozen durian, officially exported to China. Photo: Manh Khuong

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China signed an additional protocol for the export of frozen durian and fresh coconut to this market. This could bring in several hundred million USD annually for Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry, with export turnover expected to increase year after year.

Mr. Nguyen analyzed that in the future, China will increase imports of frozen, separated durian segments for processing because it will save a significant amount of money related to transportation costs by eliminating the peel at the source.

Vietnamese businesses exporting frozen products also face less pressure in complying with phytosanitary regulations (regarding potentially harmful organisms accompanying fresh fruit) and can sell further into the Chinese domestic market thanks to their long shelf life.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has nearly 175,000 hectares of coconut plantations, producing approximately 2 million tons, making it the 7th largest producer of this fruit in the world . The main growing areas are concentrated in the central coastal provinces and the Mekong Delta.

And just like durian, China is one of the world's largest coconut consuming markets. Therefore, being allowed to export officially to China opens up great opportunities for Vietnam's coconut industry. This market has a very close geographical distance, short shipping times, and low costs, so the product will be competitive with other countries.

In addition, our country has enormous export potential for pomelos, chili peppers, spices, etc., Mr. Nguyen said.

With frozen durian and fresh coconut now having "visa" to enter the Chinese market, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that the export value of these two products could reach 600-800 million USD this year and soon join the list of agricultural export products worth billions of USD.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the list of fruits currently under negotiation for market access in China also includes pomelo, avocado, custard apple, and rambutan.

Frozen crocodiles, durian, and fresh coconuts officially receive 'visas' to China: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just announced that Vietnamese products such as frozen durian, fresh coconut, and crocodiles are officially allowed to be exported to China.
Fresh Vietnamese coconuts are about to be exported to China, causing Thais to worry about a repeat of the durian scenario . Fresh Vietnamese coconuts are preparing for export to China after the two sides have initialed the conclusion of negotiations on the protocol. This has led Thais to fear that the multi-billion dollar industry will be shaken, as China is their main export market.