 |
| Vietnam’s production of bananas averages at about 2.1 million metric tonnes per year |
The department quoted statistics released by the General Administration of Customs China stating that the northern market imported 1.46 million tonnes of bananas worth US$912.4 million during the first 10 months of this year, down 7.1% in volume and down 10% in value compared to the same period last year.
The average price of imported bananas reached US$623.2 per tonne, marking a drop of 3.1% year on year.
Most notably, China increased banana imports from Vietnam but decreased the imports from the Philippines, due to Vietnam’s geographical location coupled with the rise of costs in the Chinese market.
The country’s production of bananas, a fruit that can be harvested all year round, averages at about 2.1 million metric tonnes per year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In a relevant move, on November 11, 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chinese General Administration of Customs signed a protocol requiring phytosanitary procedures for fresh bananas exported into China as part of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to China.
At present, Vietnam boasts 11 fruits licensed to enter the Chinese market. Among these fruits, the country has signed numerous Chinese protocols relating to phytosanitary requirements for four kinds - mangosteen, passion fruit, durian, and banana.
Hoa Binh exports first batch of “Dien” pomelos to US
 |
| At the ribbon cutting ceremony (Photo: VNA) |
The first batch of “Dien” pomelos weighing 16 tonnes, part of an order of 48 tonnes, from Luong Son district, the northern province of Hoa Binh, was exported to the US on December 5.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Dinh Cong Su affirmed that it is the second year Hoa Binh has exported Dien pomelos, but there is a significant difference compared to December 2022 when only one container was flown to the UK.
He said this year, the province has received orders for the pomelo from several EU countries and three orders from the US, affirming the expansion of export markets and the rapid increase in the export volume of agricultural products from Hoa Binh.
 |
| Carrying grapefruit to containers |
At present, the pomelo tree is becoming a key crop in Hoa Binh. In particular, the area dedicated to Dien pomelos this year has reached over 3,200ha, accounting for nearly 60% of the total pomelo cultivation area and 31% of the citrus tree area in the province. The expected yield of Dien pomelos this year is over 52,000 tonnes, mostly in Yen Thuy, Luong Son, and Kim Boi districts.
Local agencies and localities support pomelo growers, by expanding the areas that are granted identification codes, regularly monitoring food safety and those subject to plant quarantine, enhancing training for farmers and supplying essential supplies for production. Support has also been extended to farmers in acquiring certifications such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP. As the result, the quality of exported pomelos has improved considerably.
Goods volume surges at Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai border gate
The total volume of commodities imported and exported through Mong Cai international border gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh reached more than 1.4 million tonnes as of December 3, up 74% from a year earlier, according to Tran Bich Ngoc, head of the border gate management board.
Of the total, nearly 706,650 tonnes of goods transported by 43,405 vehicles via the Bac Luan bridge II border gate, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%.
 |
| Nearly 706,650 tonnes of goods transported by 43,405 vehicles via the Bac Luan bridge II border gate as of December 3, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%. (Photo: VNA) |
About 35,730 tonnes of goods were transported via the Km3 4 Hai Yen border crossing, up 72.9% year on year.
Besides, authorities at the Mong Cai international border gate carried out immigration procedures for over 3.9 million people.
Vietnamese 5% broken rice export price hits new high globally again
High demand for rice has prompted the export price of Vietnamese rice to rise to a record high of US$663 per tonne, the highest in the world at present.
A tonne of Vietnamese 5% broken rice was offered at US$663 on December 4 transactions, up US$13 from the previous day, according to the Vietnam Food Association.
This is the highest price the Vietnamese rice has recorded over the past more than 10 years, except for 2008 when a tonne of the 5% broken rice was traded for US$1,000.
Meanwhile, the Thai 5% broken rice also rose by 8% to US$625 per tonne, while the similar rice of Pakistan was also sold for US$600 per tonne, US$50 more than the price on offer several days ago.
 |
| Major global importers are increasing the purchase of rice, including Vietnamese rice. |
Export traders attributed the rise in the Vietnamese rice price to the high purchasing power in the global market and a limited supply of rice domestically.
In addition, the price of rice in the domestic market remains high, forcing businesses to offer high prices to make a profit.
Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of insights, data and analytics, recently said trade restrictions and risks from early El Nino phenomenon caused importing countries to increase rice reserves, further fueling export prices.
Pham Quang Dieu, chief economist of Agro Monitor, Vietnam Market Analysis and Forecasting Joint Stock Company, warned that rice businesses should be cautious about a long delivery contract in 2024 because of a limited supply and difficulty in credit capital.
In mid-2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said Vietnam is likely to export between 7.5 and 8 million tonnes of rice this year.
Statistics show Vietnamese businesses shipped abroad 7.75 million tonnes of rice in the first 11 months of the year for US$4.4 billion, up 36% in value year on year./.