With the signing of the protocol and opening of the Chinese market, it is expected that fresh coconut export turnover can increase by 200-300 million USD in 2024.

Recently, three products including fresh coconut, frozen durian and crocodile received good news when the Protocol paving the way for official exports to China was signed. With the potential of a market of 1.4 billion people, it is expected that Vietnam's fresh coconut export turnover can increase by 200 - 300 million USD this year and continue to grow strongly in the following years. In recent days, gardeners in the Mekong Delta have been very excited about this news.

Signing the protocol, coconut exports could increase by 200 - 300 million USD in 2024. Photo: Nongnghiep.vn Newspaper

Fresh coconut is considered a "billion-dollar" industry with great export prospects. Currently, Vietnam is one of the largest coconut producing and exporting countries in the world, with a planting area of ​​about 175,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the Mekong Delta region.

The Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the technical advisory unit for the protocol, assessed that exporting fresh coconut not only brings economic benefits but also motivates the Vietnamese coconut industry to develop sustainably, improving product quality to meet international standards.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Coconut Association, there are about 100 enterprises related to coconut nationwide, of which more than 40 enterprises are deep processing enterprises. In addition to production, enterprises also exploit some raw materials and by-products from coconut, serving the food, medical and cosmetic industries.

Currently, China consumes a lot of coconut, while the domestic supply capacity is only 10%. Therefore, when China opens its doors to Vietnamese coconuts, this will be an opportunity for localities, especially in the Mekong Delta such as Tra Vinh or Ben Tre.

Currently, Vietnam ranks 7th in coconut production worldwide. The coconut growing area is about 188,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the Mekong Delta. In the 4 provinces of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang and Vinh Long alone, the total area has exceeded 130,000 hectares.

In recent times, localities in the Mekong Delta have trained and guided people to cultivate coconuts according to Global Gap or organic standards. This is a condition for coconuts to be present in many demanding markets such as the United States, Europe, etc. In the near future, with the Chinese market, there will also be many strict regulations and standards that need to be followed. Only when well prepared will the Vietnamese coconut industry go the long way.

According to businesses, the signing of the Protocol on official coconut exports to China will help this product have the opportunity to surpass the 1 billion USD mark in the near future. At the same time, it will create development momentum for many key coconut localities.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to work closely with Chinese authorities to ensure a smooth implementation process, while supporting Vietnamese businesses and farmers to make the most of the opportunities from these protocols.

The Vietnam Coconut Association forecasts that the export turnover of coconut products this year will reach 1 billion USD. Despite many difficulties, with efforts to invest in production development, the coconut industry will not have difficulty achieving this figure. The potential strength of coconut trees is further promoted when the official export market of this industrial tree continues to expand.

Source: Cong Thuong Newspaper