New opportunities for fresh Vietnamese coconuts

The Plant Protection Department ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) has just said that the Department has received a notice from the General Administration of Customs of China requesting to conduct a field inspection for fresh coconut growing areas and packaging facilities wishing to export to the Chinese market.

Fresh Vietnamese coconuts face the opportunity to officially export to China

Accordingly, the inspection period is mid-August 2023. Online testing combines fieldwork and documentation.

During this inspection, the General Administration of Customs of China will focus on inspecting the system of control and prevention of pests on coconuts at the planting areas and packing facilities; registration process for plantations and export packing facilities, training and pest monitoring...; epidemic prevention work of exporting enterprises (arrangement of gardens, measures to prevent epidemics, use of plant protection drugs, training of staff); the process of harvesting, transporting and packing coconuts for export;…

This test plan represents close coordination between the two parties. The inspection will help China assess the details of the safety control system, the quality of Vietnam's coconut exports, thereby giving appropriate management measures, ensuring safer and more effective coconut exports.

Thereby improving transparency, strictly controlling the quality and safety of coconuts exported from Vietnam to China, contributing to promoting the signing of the Protocol on the export of fresh coconuts between the two countries.

In order to well prepare the field inspection contents for the growing areas, fresh coconut packaging establishments wishing to export at the request of the General Administration of Customs of China, the Plant Protection Department suggested that the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities direct the Cultivation and Plant Protection Sub-Departments/local specialized agencies to arrange ready resources to coordinate with the Plant Protection Department during the inspection; sending technical staff to guide and support the growing areas, fresh coconut packing facilities to participate in online inspection at the request of the General Administration of Customs of China.

At the same time, prepare documents and technical documents related to the management and prevention of harmful organisms at the request of the General Administration of Customs of China.

Reviewing and synthesizing the growing areas and packing establishments of fresh coconuts wishing to register for export to China. Inform and guide the growing areas, packing establishments to complete relevant documents and documents and prepare all conditions to participate in online inspection at the request of the General Administration of Customs of China.

Previously, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association also made a proposal to Vietnamese authorities to coordinate in negotiations to sign more Protocols for official exports to China in order to help Vietnamese fruit and vegetable enterprises more convenient in export clearance, stabilize and increase the value of export turnover. In which, opening more export markets for other Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products such as: green-skinned pomelo, fresh coconut, avocado, pineapple, custard apple, lemon, cantaloupe...

The potential of coconut fruit exports to China

China's import demand for coconut continues to increase. Hainan Island, the main coconut producer in China, produces only 250 million coconuts a year, while China's annual market demand is up to 2.6 billion.

In addition, there are 1.5 billion coconuts to be processed, so the demand difference is huge. Nutritious, low in fat and delicious in taste, coconut is a tropical fruit with a rapidly increasing demand.

Because the Chinese market has a huge demand for coconuts, but the country's coconut production only meets 10% of the market demand, it can only rely on imported coconuts to meet the needs of consumers.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Mr. Shen Xiaoming - Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee, China.

On February 22, 2023, at the meeting between the Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Mr. Shen Xiaoming - Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee, China at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Minister of Industry and Trade also made a proposal to his side in cooperation in trade promotion and promoting the opening of the Chinese market for Vietnamese agricultural products, in which, promoting the bringing of Vietnamese fresh coconuts to the Chinese market.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien assessed that China has a high demand for fresh coconut products, of which Hainan is one of the largest importers of China's fresh coconuts. Opening up the Chinese market for Vietnamese coconuts will help Hainan diversify its supply sources.

Comrade Shen Xiaoming also said that Hainan is the largest importer of coconuts, also the locality where 70% of businesses operating in the coconut processing field of China are concentrated.

Comrade Secretary will assign the agencies in charge of Hainan province and expressed his willingness to work with the General Administration of Customs of China to promote the opening of the market for fresh coconuts of Vietnam. Comrade Shen Hieu emphasized that with the advantages of both sides, he has great faith in expanding the import of tropical fruits and seafood from Vietnam.

Currently, in Vietnam, there are more than 180,000 hectares of agricultural land used to grow coconuts. Large numbers are concentrated in the central coastal provinces and the Mekong Delta such as Tra Vinh and Ben Tre. Thanks to that, Vietnam is currently ranked 7th in coconut production worldwide.

Currently, coconut growing localities are making great efforts to improve product quality. Notably, in order to export coconuts to China smoothly, businesses have invested in building organic coconut farms. More than 7,000 hectares of coconut certified organic coconut is a clear proof of that.

With the efforts of farmers and businesses to change their ways to adapt to the export market, including the Chinese market, it is expected that Vietnamese fresh coconuts will receive a "passport ticket" to this billion-people market.