Vietnam Boosts Agricultural Exports to China with Expanded Testing Capacity

Vietnam is enhancing its testing infrastructure to address bottlenecks and boost agricultural product exports to China, its largest market. The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has recognized 18 additional Vietnamese testing laboratories, marking a significant step forward. This expansion raises the total number of GACC-recognized laboratories from 32 to 50, an increase of nearly 60%. Among these, 12 are newly recognized, and 6 have had their operational scope for Cadmium indicators restored. The network now extends beyond major urban areas to key production regions like Gia Lai and Lam Dong, reducing transport time and costs for enterprises and cooperatives. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the testing laboratory system primarily serves durian, a product with the strictest testing requirements for export to China. He also noted that the number of approved packaging facilities has risen from about 80 to 150 compared to the same period last year. Deputy Minister Hiep expressed confidence that Vietnam's current testing and packaging capacity is sufficient to meet durian export demand, preventing any congestion. He highlighted that the primary challenge lies not in testing capacity but in durian's concentrated ripening periods. To manage the peak harvest season in August and September, the ministry is deploying mobile testing units and mandating 24/7 operations to expedite results and ensure export progress. The expansion of testing laboratories occurs as Vietnamese agricultural products still hold significant growth potential in China. Both countries have signed export protocols for durian, bananas, jackfruit, and other fruits, with ongoing negotiations for longan, lychee, mango, and citrus fruits. China accounts for over 95% of Vietnam's fresh durian exports and about 99% of its jackfruit exports. However, alongside this vast market potential come increasingly stringent requirements for quality, traceability, growing-area codes, packaging facility codes, and phytosanitary measures. Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, assessed that the GACC's recognition of additional testing laboratories not only expands Vietnam's testing capacity but also completes the "technical infrastructure" for agricultural exports. Combined with expanded growing-area and packaging facility codes and enhanced traceability, this is expected to streamline exports.