Multi-channel, multi-directional Vietnamese agricultural markets: [2] Trailblazing protocols

Need for thoroughness

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Multi-channel, multi-directional Vietnamese agricultural markets: [1] Global situation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has signed protocols for the export of chili, passion fruit, bird’s nest, and rice bran to China, along with a cooperation agreement on environmental protection and geosciences.

These documents were signed during the official visit of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to Vietnam from April 14 to 15.

Specifically, the signed documents comprise the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Chili Exported from Vietnam to China; the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Passion Fruit Exported from Vietnam to China; the Protocol on Safety and Animal and Plant Quarantine Requirements for Rice Bran and Rice Bran Used as Animal Feed Materials Exported from Vietnam to China; and the Protocol on Veterinary Hygiene, Quarantine, and Inspection Requirements for Raw and Clean Edible Bird’s Nest Products Exported from Vietnam to China.

On March 24, the Nam Do Agricultural Products Joint Stock Company held a signing ceremony with its Chinese import partner and began transporting 24 tons of frozen durian from its factory in Krong Pak District, Dak Lak, to China. This shipment marks the first batch of frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China following the signing of the Protocol on Frozen Durian Exports on August 19, 2024. The shipment was sampled and thoroughly inspected one last time before being shipped out and loaded into containers for transportation to the border.

According to Mr. To Van Quang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-China Business Association in Guangxi, the recently signed agreements carry profound political and strategic significance.

“This not only reflects China’s strong regard for its relationship with Vietnam, but also represents a concrete step toward realizing the shared understanding reached by the two countries’ top leaders. It signals a mutual commitment to building a more balanced, elevated bilateral trade relationship. In the face of an increasingly volatile global trade environment, the strengthening of agricultural cooperation between China and Vietnam also contributes positively to the stability of regional and global commerce," Mr. To emphasized.

Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, both countries have acted swiftly to accelerate cooperation in agricultural trade, clearly demonstrating a joint desire for mutually beneficial collaboration in a complex international setting.

Furthermore, with Vietnam’s advantageous geographic proximity and a steadily improving logistics infrastructure, Vietnamese agricultural products enjoy clear competitive strengths in terms of pricing and delivery time, advantages that many other countries find difficult to match.

The signing of these protocols represents a practical and significant step toward leveraging the complementary strengths of both parties, aiming to drive agricultural trade toward stable and sustainable development.

However, some businesses and traders continue to operate with a short-sighted mindset, using manipulative tactics to inflate agricultural prices to unreasonable levels. “This is not a new issue,” said Mr. To. “I believe that Vietnamese businesses, particularly those that operate with integrity, are the ones most harmed by these unscrupulous business practices. In the end, it is the farmers who bear the heaviest losses."

He emphasized that Chinese consumers are becoming “increasingly discerning". The pressure from customers, along with strict customs and quarantine regulations in China, means that businesses there “dare not take risks” as the consequences could lead to imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s agricultural competitors in Southeast Asia are constantly adapting to the stringent demands of a market with 1.4 billion people.

Strong growth

Despite the market fluctuations since the end of last year, Mr. To believes that, when looking at consumption trends in China, products such as chili, passion fruit, bird’s nest, and rice bran have shown strong and consistent growth in recent years.

China is not only a large market but also one with a highly diverse consumer base. The demand for agricultural products is rising steadily across various segments. Chili and passion fruit have become popular due to their distinctive flavors, finding their place in both the spice industry and the beverage sector, particularly fruit juices. Bird’s nest has been recognized as a premium, nutritious food. On the other hand, rice bran is gaining increasing attention, especially in the nutritional food industry and in animal feed production.

However, Chinese consumers are becoming more discerning when it comes to product quality, safety, and traceability. In addition, Chinese customs regulations and monitoring procedures are becoming stricter to ensure product safety and compliance. Therefore, Vietnamese businesses looking to expand into China must be vigilant in adhering to quality standards, proper labeling, and meticulously following all customs clearance procedures. Failure to comply with these standards could result in unnecessary risks, both in terms of financial loss and reputational damage.

In northern China, several agricultural import companies have reaffirmed to Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper that "China will continue to lead the way in importing agricultural products from Vietnam".

A representative of a banana import company at Tan Phat Di, the largest agricultural wholesale market in Beijing, commented: "In April 2025, several agricultural market analysis platforms highlighted the significant event of 200 containers of bananas coming from Vietnam."

This particular shipment of bananas is from Hoang Anh Gia Lai Company, owned by businessman Ba Duc. Chinese agricultural analysts highly appreciate the Vietnamese company for its farm productivity, which can reach up to 7.000 tons. Currently, Hoang Anh Gia Lai is believed to be exporting 200 containers of bananas every week exclusively to the Chinese market, in addition to other exports to Japan and South Korea.

"It seems that Vietnamese durian is so valuable and well-known that people sometimes overlook other agricultural products," said Zhao Guocheng, a representative of an agricultural import company at Tan Phat Di.

Mr. Zhao went on to highlight that while Hoang Anh Gia Lai initially shipped only a few containers of bananas to China, the company now exports as many as 200 containers per week.

"The issue does not lie in the regulations, but in whether businesses strictly adhere to the technical standards outlined in the signed protocols and related documents", said Zhao Guocheng, a representative of an agricultural import company at Tan Phat Di.