Vietnamese watermelon is set to enter the Chinese market through official export channels, thanks to a new protocol signed during the visit of China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam. This landmark agreement marks a significant step in standardizing and boosting Vietnam’s agricultural exports to China.
The protocol outlines strict compliance with Chinese food safety regulations and plant quarantine requirements. Vietnamese production, packing, and exporting facilities must adhere to these standards to ensure the safe and quality export of watermelons.
Under the agreement, watermelons exported from Vietnam must be free of any of the five species listed in China’s plant quarantine list. Additionally, all farming areas and packing facilities involved in watermelon production for export must be registered and approved by relevant authorities in both Vietnam and China.
These farming areas must meet Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) standards, and the entire process of farming and packaging must be supervised by appropriate agencies. Packing facilities are required to implement traceability systems to ensure that each export can be traced back to its origin.
Moreover, watermelon consignments must undergo thorough customs clearance procedures in China, with 2% of the shipments subject to plant quarantine checks.
For years, Vietnam has exported watermelons to China, primarily through border trade rather than official quotas. However, this new protocol enhances the legitimacy and quality assurance of these exports, aligning them with international standards.
Since 2021, Vietnam has focused on improving the quality of its agricultural exports, ensuring they meet safety standards and have clearly traceable origins. These efforts have paid off, as watermelon exports to China reached US$44 million in the first 10 months of this year, a 162% increase compared to the same period last year.
China’s local watermelon season runs from late April to September, leading to increased imports from November to April. The demand for watermelons also spikes during the Lunar New Year, as the fruit’s red color is considered a symbol of good luck.
With this new protocol, Vietnamese watermelon joins the list of 14 agricultural products officially approved for export to China, including nine fruits: dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, and durian. This development is a promising sign for the future of Vietnam’s agricultural exports, especially in the lucrative Chinese market.
