Opening the Export Pathway for Vietnamese Fresh Jackfruit to China

A Historic Breakthrough for Vietnamese Jackfruit

In Beijing, on November 27, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, Trần Đức Thắng, and Deputy Director-General of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), Zhao Zenglian, officially signed the Protocol on the export requirements for Vietnamese fresh jackfruit to China. This event marks a historic breakthrough, opening a promising new chapter for Vietnam's jackfruit industry by formally establishing official cross-border trade, thereby ending the reliance on unstable small-scale border trade. This move not only helps mitigate risks but also significantly enhances the reputation and standing of Vietnamese agricultural products globally. Fresh jackfruit has now become one of the Vietnamese fruits to gain formal agreement to enter this market of billions, affirming the effective and sustainable agricultural cooperation between the two nations.

The "Golden" Opportunity in the Billion-Person Market

The opening of this official export channel presents an unprecedented "golden" opportunity. China has long been Vietnam's largest importer of agricultural products, with bilateral trade turnover showing strong growth year after year. Formal export means that jackfruit products will receive better pricing, leading to higher and more stable income for farmers. This provides a strong incentive for farmers to invest in quality, expand cultivation areas, and adopt international farming standards such as GAP or VietGAP. Furthermore, meeting the strict requirements of a market like China will serve as a solid launchpad, enabling the Vietnamese jackfruit brand to confidently expand into other demanding markets worldwide.

Mandatory Challenges: Quality and Traceability

However, opportunities are always accompanied by rigorous challenges and strict requirements. To maintain and expand this official export channel, Vietnam must comply with stringent regulations from the GACC concerning Food Safety and Hygiene (FSH) and phytosanitary control. Specifically, jackfruit shipments must strictly adhere to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) set by Chinese regulations, and the fruit must be free from Chinese quarantine pests and living insects. The most vital and mandatory requirement is traceability. All growing areas and packing facilities must be registered, issued valid codes, and approved by the GACC. This measure ensures quality control from the root, guaranteeing transparency throughout the supply chain.

The Future of Vietnamese Agriculture

The official export of Vietnamese fresh jackfruit to China is more than just a success for a single commodity; it is a testament to the transformative efforts of the entire agricultural sector, moving towards stringent international standards. The path ahead requires collective consensus: Farmers must strictly follow safe cultivation procedures; businesses need to invest in pre-processing and preservation technology; and regulatory agencies must continue to support and facilitate the issuance of growing area codes and packing facility codes.

Only when all links in the supply chain act in unison, building both quality and trust, can we transform this "golden gateway" into a sustainable trade route, elevate the Vietnamese fresh jackfruit brand globally, and deliver higher economic value to its growers.