Vietnam has entered into a new agreement, signed during the visit of China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, enabling the official export of watermelons to China within specified quotas.

This protocol plays a pivotal role in setting standards and enhancing Vietnam’s official agricultural exports to China. It mandates compliance with Chinese food safety regulations, standards, and plant quarantine requirements, requiring adherence to rules in production, packing, and exporting facilities.

As per the protocol, watermelons from Vietnam must not be contaminated with any of the five living species listed in China’s plant quarantine, necessitating registration and approval of farming areas and packing facilities in both countries. Farming areas are required to meet Good Agriculture Practices standards, with supervision from relevant agencies in both nations.

Packing facilities must establish a system ensuring exports’ clear origins, traceable to their farming zones.

Watermelon shipments must undergo all stages of customs clearance in China, with 2% subjected to plant quarantine.

While Vietnam has long been exporting watermelons informally to China, this official quota system formalizes the process. The fruit has been well-received across the border.

Since 2021, Vietnam has been actively enhancing the quality of its agricultural exports, focusing on traceable origins and meeting safety standards.

In the initial 10 months of this year, watermelon exports to China reached US$44 million, marking a 162% increase compared to the same period last year.

China’s local watermelon season spans from late April to September, leading to imports between November and April.

The demand for watermelons surges, particularly during Lunar New Year, given the fruit’s auspicious red color.

Currently, 14 agricultural products, including nine fruits (dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, and durian), have gained official approval for export to China.