Removal of Covid restrictions in China and opening of border crossings provide boost for Vietnamese fruit exporters
Vietnamese fruit exporters have welcomed improved access to the Chinese market, with orders and prices surging at the start of 2023.
According to reports from VnExpress, trade has reinvigorated after China relaxed its zero-Covid restrictions and fully opened a number of key border crossings.
Prices have skyrocketed due to the surge in demand for a number of key lines that are not currently in season.
One example is dragon fruit with growers in Tien Giang Province are selling the red-fleshed dragon fruit at VND38,000 (US$1.62) per kilogram and white-fleshed for VND32,000, up 10 per cent from before the Lunar New Year holiday and triple from the same time last year.
Binh Thuan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said trucks can now pass the border easily without having to wait for days as they did during the pandemic and Chinese customs no longer requires goods to be tested for Covid-19.
“We are working to connect farmers with possible export locations in China to help them sell their fruit with ease,” said Mai Kieu, director of the department.
Durian, jackfruit and potatoes are among the other products in high demand with prices increasing anywhere from 50 per cent to 200 per cent compared to the same time in 2021.
