Hai Phong tightens procedures for 50,000 tons of lychee exports

Standardizing the “passport” of planting area production unit codes and farm practices

In 2026, Hai Phong will maintain roughly 9,350 hectares of lychee cultivation, concentrated in key areas such as Ha Dong and Thanh Ha. Total output is estimated at 47,000–50,000 tons, with early-season lychees (about 35%) harvested from May 10 and the main crop beginning June 5. A highlight of this season is the development of more than 1,000 hectares meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, along with 198 export-certified planting area production unit codes.

Luong Thi Kiem, deputy director of the Hai Phong Department of Agriculture and Environment, described the current period as a challenging final sprint. She said managing planting area production unit codes and packing facilities under Decree 38 must go beyond administrative formalities and be implemented in substance.

“We are facing the reality that importing countries are tightening SPS technical barriers. China, for example, has updated standard GB 2763, adding nearly 600 maximum residue limits for more than 125 active substances. This requires authorities to monitor from the source, from pesticide dealers down to each lychee tree,” Kiem said.

She urged local authorities to remain vigilant in reviewing planting area production unit codes, warning that fraud and production unit codes misuse are becoming more complex and could lead to export suspensions for the entire sector if detected. Communes and wards are asked to allocate sufficient resources for cross-monitoring and to conduct sampling inspections at least 15 days before harvest to ensure no chemical residues remain.

Nguyen Thi An, deputy head of VietGAP Group No. 1 in Ha Dong commune, a key lychee-growing area, described what she called a system of “strict discipline” in the fields. Instead of individual management, farmers now operate under a cross-supervision model.

“We follow the rule: neighbors monitor neighbors. If any household sprays pesticides close to harvest or uses unapproved chemicals, that household is immediately removed from the export supply list. We understand that if even one contaminated fruit slips through, the reputation built over years will be lost,” An said.

She added that production logs have become essential for farmers. Records include fertilization dates, pesticide active ingredients, and pre-harvest intervals. Farmers now strictly follow minimum intervals of 14 days for common pesticides and up to 40 days for slow-degrading chemicals, under agricultural extension guidance. This discipline is key to building confidence with major buyers.

Overcoming technical barriers to build sustainable value chains

The main challenge for this year’s lychee crop is not yield but compliance with maximum residue limits (MRLs). Markets such as the EU and Japan have lowered thresholds for many substances to as little as 0.01 mg/kg, effectively near zero.

Mai Xuan Thinh, CEO of Red Dragon Fruit Co., said businesses and farmers are entering a “zero-margin-for-error” environment. With 18 years of export experience, he noted that quarantine treatments such as irradiation or methyl bromide fumigation are mandatory for the US and Japan, but residue levels ultimately determine whether shipments clear customs.

“Our goal is to work with farmers to produce globally compliant lychees. That means fruit from Hai Duong or Hai Phong must meet the same highest standards whether sold in Japan, the US, or supermarkets in Hanoi. Once quality is genuine, the market will follow with higher value,” Thinh said.

Supporting farmers in maintaining clean production, Ngo Thi Thu Hong, CEO of Ameii Vietnam JSC, announced a strong commercial commitment. In 2026, Ameii plans to increase lychee procurement in Hai Phong by 2.5 times compared to last year. The company has coordinated closely with production groups from the start of the season to standardize fertilization and pest control processes.

“We are not just buying products, we are buying consumer trust. To encourage farmers to comply with strict VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, we guarantee purchase prices 10% to 20% higher than the market for certified growing areas. Fair economic returns are the strongest incentive for farmers to stay committed to clean agriculture,” Hong said.

She also emphasized that the company will conduct independent sampling at internationally accredited laboratories before packaging, eliminating risks related to heavy metals or chemical residues and safeguarding the reputation of both the company and the region.

Hai Phong has developed a relatively robust “production unit codes ecosystem,” with 68 growing areas granted 198 export production unit codess. China leads with 66 production unit codess (covering 1,078 hectares), followed by Australia (45), the United States (41), and Japan (38). The city also has seven packing facilities holding 16 export production unit codess, with a total capacity of up to 650 tons per day, sufficient for peak harvest demand.

The implementation of Government Decree 38 on the import of plants with soil and the management of planting area production unit codess is seen as a timely step to standardize data and improve traceability transparency—an issue of particular importance to Western partners.

With coordinated efforts from government authorities, farmers, and businesses, Hai Phong lychees are well positioned to expand into global markets. The close linkage among stakeholders aims not only for a successful export season but also for a stronger positioning of Vietnamese agricultural products on the global quality map.

Eco-agritourism adds value to lychee production

Hai Phong is also exploring eco-agritourism as a way to diversify the value of lychees. Allowing visitors to experience harvesting at VietGAP-certified orchards in Ha Dong commune offers an effective branding strategy. Tourists serve as real-world “inspectors” of clean production processes while providing farmers with additional on-site income.