On August 19th, during General Secretary and President Tô Lâm’s visit to China, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed three protocols with the General Administration of Customs of China. This marks a significant step in promoting the official export of Vietnam’s agricultural products to the Chinese market, focusing on three main items: fresh coconut, frozen durian, and crocodiles.
Expanding the Market for Vietnamese Agricultural Products
This event is considered a crucial milestone, opening up significant opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products to penetrate deeper into the Chinese market—a vast market with high demand for agricultural goods. The signed protocols include:
- Protocol on inspection, plant quarantine, and food safety for frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China.
- Protocol on plant quarantine requirements for fresh coconut exported from Vietnam to China.
- Protocol on quarantine and health requirements for farmed crocodiles exported from Vietnam to China.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Lê Minh Hoan, shared that this signing is the result of active negotiations between the two sides. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to work closely with the General Administration of Customs of China to ensure a smooth export process, facilitating Vietnamese businesses.
Frozen Durian – The New Star in Agricultural Exports
Among the three newly signed products, frozen durian is considered the one with the greatest export potential. Officially opening the Chinese market to frozen durian not only helps reduce the harvest season pressure but also creates significant added value for Vietnam’s durian industry. It is expected that the export revenue for frozen durian could reach $400 to $500 million in 2024 and soon join the list of billion-dollar export agricultural products by 2025.
Fresh Coconut – Strong Growth Prospects
Fresh coconut, one of Vietnam’s major agricultural products, also holds great expectations with its official export permit to China. With approximately 175,000 hectares of coconut plantations, mainly in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam is currently one of the world’s leading coconut producers and exporters. The opening of the Chinese market is expected to increase fresh coconut export revenue by $200 to $300 million in 2024.
Crocodiles – Diversifying Export Products
The signing of the protocol also opens up significant opportunities for Vietnam’s crocodile farming industry, which has been developing for over 30 years. The opening of the Chinese market to crocodile products not only presents great economic opportunities but also drives the industry towards sustainable development, ensuring environmental and animal welfare standards.
Conclusion
The signing of three agricultural export protocols between Vietnam and China is a significant step forward, opening up numerous opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter international markets. This milestone not only marks the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture sector but also serves as a motivation for businesses to enhance product quality, meet international standards, and assert the position of Vietnamese agricultural products on the global map.
