On November 26th, Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Tran Duc Thang, and Deputy Director General of China Customs (GACC), Zhao Zeng Lian, signed a protocol allowing fresh jackfruit from Vietnam to be officially exported to China. This marks a significant milestone for jackfruit-growing regions, particularly in the Dong Thap Muoi area, as China stands as Vietnam’s largest agricultural import market.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the export value of fruits and vegetables in the first 10 months of 2025 reached USD 7.09 billion, a 15.1% increase year-over-year. Notably, China accounted for 62.9% of this figure, highlighting the immense potential and growing efficiency of Vietnam-China agricultural trade.
Jackfruit exports.
Towards Sustainable Development
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment outlines Vietnam’s jackfruit development strategy by 2030, aiming to stabilize cultivation at approximately 50,000 hectares with an output of 600,000–700,000 tons annually.
Despite advantages in volume and quality, jackfruit production in Vietnam remains largely spontaneous, lacking standardized planting codes and care procedures. This results in inconsistent quality. The use of ripening agents and uneven harvesting practices further heighten risks of stricter import controls or product returns.
Additionally, Vietnam lacks post-harvest preservation systems and internationally certified processing centers, leaving many businesses without a stable supply of raw materials.
Companies like Vina T&T and Cau Ke (formerly Tra Vinh) have invested in deep processing for markets such as the U.S. and Canada, but their scale remains limited. The potential for expanding jackfruit exports is vast.
To make jackfruit a sustainable export product, it is essential to plan raw material zones, standardize production processes, strengthen business-cooperative-farmer partnerships, and leverage local support in digital transformation and cultivation techniques.
Direct Benefits for Farmers
Beyond market expansion, farmers stand to gain directly from the official export of jackfruit. Standardized production processes ensure stable outlets for certified growers, reducing reliance on intermediaries and mitigating “bumper crop, price drop” scenarios.
The protocol signing helps maintain higher prices for fresh jackfruit as exporters seek compliant raw materials, incentivizing farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices.
Business-cooperative-farmer collaboration opens doors to advanced techniques, traceability support, and post-harvest preservation.
Farmers’ incomes will stabilize through long-term contracts with exporters, reducing market risks and fostering professional production mindsets.
In the long term, farmers will not only increase profits from fresh jackfruit but also engage in a sustainable value chain—from cultivation and harvesting to deep processing—creating jobs and improving livelihoods, especially in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands regions.
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This is one of Vietnam’s flagship exported fruits and vegetables.
