Coconuts processed for export in Bến Tre Province. Fresh coconut exports are forecast to reach $1 billion this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Trí

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Coconut Association has forecast that coconut exports will hit US$1 billion this year, driven by the signing of a protocol for official export of fresh coconuts to China.

Earlier this month, Việt Nam and China signed three protocols on the official export of frozen durian, fresh coconuts and crocodile to China, which are expected to significantly boost exports of these farm products.

China’s opening the door for fresh coconut will bring significant opportunities for Việt Nam’s coconut growers. With a population of 1.4 billion, China is a huge consumption market, while its domestic coconut supply only meets around 10 per cent of the demand.

Nguyễn Hữu Tài, a farmer with one hectare of coconut trees in Bến Tre Province, said that this is good news for coconut growers, as opening up the Chinese market will develop a stable consumption market for coconuts and avoid falling prices.

The Việt Nam Fruit and Vegetable Association expects the export of fresh coconut to increase by around $200-300 million by the end of the year and continue to grow significantly in the near future.

Việt Nam is currently the seventh largest coconut producer in the world, with a total growing area of 188,00ha and an output of around two million tonnes per year, mainly in Mekong Delta region.

Prepare for the long run

While the news is cheering coconut growers, preparations in terms of quality standardisation are needed for sustainable export to China.

Nguyễn Quốc Mạnh, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the linkage in coconut production remains weak due to scattered plantings.

Scattered plantations make it difficult to standardise and ensure quality, Mạnh said, adding that it will take time for the industry to do so.

More investments are also needed in developing the infrastructure for harvesting, collecting, processing and preserving coconuts.

“It is pressing to develop coconut growing areas which meet quality requirements for exports to stringent markets such as the US and China,” Mạnh said.

Developing growing areas which meet stringent quality requirements could also help the coconut industry to expand to more markets, Trần Văn Đức, chairman of Bến Tre Coconut Investment Company said.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoàng Trung said greater attention must be paid to the management of growing areas and packaging facilities granted with codes for export to ensure compliance with the requirements of the import markets.

The ministry will continue to work with the Chinese side to facilitate the implementation of the protocol as well as provide supports to Vietnamese farmers to take advantage from this opportunity for coconut export expansion.

Fresh coconut exports reached around $800 million in 2022-23, mainly to China, Thailand, the US and the EU. — VNS