Ready to export fresh coconut to the Chinese market

All growing areas must maintain pest monitoring and control records, which will be provided to GACC upon request. Source: Internet.

Fresh Vietnamese coconuts exported to 15 countries

Assessing Vietnam's fresh coconut export potential, speaking at the Conference on the Implementation of the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Fresh Coconut Exports from Vietnam to China, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung said that coconut is a strong crop and is generating income for people in many provinces and cities in Vietnam. Coconut is also one of the six crops included in the project and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the development of key industrial crops by 2030. Currently, Vietnam has 15 provinces growing a lot of coconut with an area of ​​about 200,000 hectares of coconut, with an output of 2 million tons. In 2023, Vietnam exported fresh coconuts to 15 countries around the world with an output of 30,000 tons and 320,000 tons of processed coconut products.

According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam's coconut and coconut product exports in 2023 reached more than 900 million USD. Of which, the main import markets for fresh coconuts from Vietnam are the US, Japan, South Korea, etc. The US is currently Vietnam's largest coconut import market, accounting for about 51% of the total export turnover of fresh coconuts. The Vietnamese coconut industry currently ranks 4th in terms of total value in the world coconut market.

"Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Department of Customs of China signed a protocol allowing official export of fresh coconuts to China. This is both an opportunity to expand Vietnam's coconut market and a legal basis for us to organize and link up to produce this crop more systematically and effectively," affirmed the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung added that China is expected to conduct online inspections of growing area codes and packaging facilities from September 11 to 12, 2024 to complete export registration. Each day, there will be 3 parallel inspection teams, and the Chinese side will randomly select 24 growing areas and 12 packaging facilities for inspection. Therefore, localities, packaging facilities, growing areas of cooperatives and enterprises need to arrange enough resources to prepare well for the upcoming inspection. Enterprises need to closely coordinate with cooperatives with growing areas and packaging facilities to ensure that standards are met. In preparation for this inspection, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development requested that 15 provinces and cities that are growing a lot of coconuts need to grasp, carefully study and prepare related issues and documents according to the regulations of the protocol signed between the Ministry and the General Administration of Customs of China. During this inspection, any locality or unit that violates will be immediately eliminated, the delegation will not inspect next time and will not allow the facilities in that place to register for export.

Vietnamese coconuts will be imported through all Chinese border gates

China's inspection of fresh Vietnamese coconuts is not only a challenge but also a great opportunity for cooperatives, businesses, and farmers to improve production capacity and ensure the quality of export products. To be successful, there needs to be close coordination between relevant parties and strict compliance with quarantine requirements from partners, thereby contributing to enhancing the value and brand of Vietnamese coconuts in the international market.

Accordingly, to export fresh coconuts to China, people, localities, and businesses should pay special attention to fresh Vietnamese coconuts exported from Vietnam to China, including fresh coconuts (whole fruit with green shells and stems shorter than or equal to 5cm and coconuts without shells) must comply with Chinese laws on plant quarantine, regulations and standards related to food safety and hygiene, and not be contaminated with plant quarantine species that China is concerned about. Before exporting, plant quarantine officers conduct plant quarantine inspections and take 2% samples. During the first 2 years, if no violations of plant quarantine are detected, the sampling rate will be reduced to 1%. In particular, Vietnamese coconuts will be imported through all Chinese border gates that are permitted by GACC to import fruit. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Lien, Vice President of the Vietnam Coconut Association, opening the Chinese market for fresh coconuts is a very good sign not only for the coconut industry but also helps people increase their income. However, all cooperatives, enterprises, and farmers who are producing and trading coconuts need to pay close attention and concentrate to best prepare the remaining stages for the inspection of growing area codes and packaging facilities from China. In addition to preparing well for production work, the business, circulation, and transportation of goods in the process of export also need attention. Cooperatives, businesses and farmers also need to check and access information and export policies in a timely manner to have appropriate plans.

According to Mr. Phan Duc Tai, Director of Thanh Tri Coconut Cooperative (Tra Vinh), to prepare for exporting fresh coconuts in the coming time, the Cooperative has proactively guided farmers to apply advanced technical processes and carefully studied the conditions in the Protocol to ensure that all export standards are met. “The Cooperative not only focuses on the production stage but also strengthens inspection, updates information and export policies to have appropriate plans, ensuring product safety and quality. This is the right direction for cooperatives and businesses in the coconut industry to not only take advantage of opportunities from the Chinese market but also affirm the position of Vietnamese coconut in the international market,” Mr. Phan Duc Tai emphasized.