All 10 large parking lots along the road from Dong Dang Town’s center to Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son are full of container trucks, waiting for customs clearance to enter China.

The trucks are mostly from the central and southern provinces, and are full of farm produce, including chili, jackfruit, durian and dragon fruit.

According to Dong Dang Border Gate Economic Zone Management Board, on February 8-14 alone, nearly 13,000 tons of farm produce and fruit were exported across the border gates in the province.

The first month of the new lunar year is the high export season. Vietnamese businesses have increased exports on the occasion of the fifteenth of the first lunar month.

Anticipating the surge in the number of container trucks, the border gate management board has prepared for the scenario. Exporters can make customs declarations on software serving the ‘digital border gate’. Meanwhile, the parking lots have been upgraded to ensure the capacity of 1,000 trucks for every lot.

Meanwhile, the Kim Thanh International Border Gate No 2 in Lao Cai reported that $12 million worth of farm produce was exported via the gate during Tet days. 

A report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade showed that farm exports to China in January soared 106 percent over the same period last year. China continued to be the biggest customer, consuming 23 percent of Vietnam’s total farm exports.

Many products saw sharp growth rates, including seafood (291 percent), cassava and cassava-made products (111.7 percent) and vegetables and fruit (120 percent). The sharp growth rate of 660 percent was reported for cashew nuts and 630 percent for coffee.

The prices of some products were high. Durian has become expensive as they are selling well in China. Ri6 durians were collected at $125,000-148,000 per kilogram, and Monthong durian VND160,000-200,000, and Musan King VND160,000-190,000.

According to Nguyen Thai Binh, chair of Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association, about $6.5 billion worth of vegetables and fruits will be exported to China this year.

China has agreed to open its market to other fruits from Vietnam, including avocado and passion fruit. It is also considering allowing Vietnam to export poultry to its market.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said Vietnam is considering measures to boost exports to China, including smart border gate, logistics chain and e-commerce.

Tam An