“Crocodile, Frozen Durian, and Fresh Coconut: China’s Unique Exports”

The signing of the Protocol by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is a significant step forward in agricultural trade relations between the two countries, especially for Vietnamese agriculture.

Frozen durian is considered a priority product with significant potential to contribute to agricultural export turnover. The official opening of the Chinese market to this product is expected to create vast opportunities for the Vietnamese durian industry.

In 2023, Vietnam exported approximately 500,000 tons of durian, earning a turnover of $2.3 billion, with exports to China accounting for 90%.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, frozen durian is a new product with higher added value than fresh durian. Opening the market to this product will help diversify processing, reduce harvest season pressure, and create greater added value for the durian industry.

Frozen durian exports are expected to reach an export turnover of $400-500 million as early as this year and join the list of billion-dollar agricultural export items by 2025.

Regarding fresh coconuts, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assesses them as a product with great export potential. The signing of this Protocol opens up opportunities for Vietnamese fresh coconuts to officially access the market of 1.4 billion people.

Currently, Vietnam is one of the world’s largest coconut producers and exporters, with an area of about 175,000 hectares, mainly in the Mekong Delta. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that opening the Chinese market will increase fresh coconut exports by $200-300 million this year and continue to grow strongly in subsequent years.

This will not only bring economic benefits but also create momentum for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s coconut industry, improving product quality to meet international standards.

Also, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, China’s market opening for crocodiles will create enormous opportunities for this industry. This is not only an economic opportunity but also a driving force for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s crocodile industry, ensuring environmental standards and animal welfare.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Minh Hoan, valued the signing of the three Protocols as a result of active exchanges and negotiations between the specialized units of the two countries.

“We expect this to contribute significantly to boosting agricultural exports, especially the newly signed products, to the Chinese market, making a notable contribution to the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture,” said Minister Hoan.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s leaders will continue to work closely with the General Administration of Customs of China to implement the next steps after the signing of the Protocols to ensure that Vietnamese enterprises can export the above products to the Chinese market in the coming time,” shared Minister Hoan.