Despite the zero Covid policy, exports to China in 2022 still nearly doubled, for example, durian increased by more than 4,100% in one month. In early January 2023, China reopened, thus exports of agricultural products to this market are expected to explode.

Talking about the Chinese market at the press conference on the working results in 2022 and the key tasks in 2023 of the MARD on December 30, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Quality Management Le Ba Anh said that: In 2022, although China applied the zero Covid policy, seafood exports to the market of more than 1.4 billion people nearly doubled compared with 2021.

“On January 8, China reopened, Vietnam’s seafood exports will be much more favorable,” Mr. Ba Anh said. Earlier, China allowed 802 Vietnamese seafood enterprises to export to this market.

According to Mr. Ba Anh, in 2022, China strictly controlled the pandemic, so exports of fresh seafood products such as lobster, crab, and shrimp through border gates were congested. Now that they opened, restaurants will operate again, so our country’s exports of these items will increase sharply.

Deputy Minister of the MARD said that it is necessary to improve the quality of goods to meet the market standards. (Photo: Tam An)

For goods exported by sea, previously, it took about 2 weeks for inspection.  If Covid-19 was detected on the good’s packaging, it would be suspended. With the new policy, all complicated quarantine procedure is abolished, so exports by sea will also be favorable, Mr. Ba said.

Deputy Minister of the MARD Phung Duc Tien said that: With a population of more than 1.4 billion people, China is a potential market, accounting for 19.2% of the total export turnover of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries of Vietnam.

“For example, exports of durian increased by 4,100% in just one month, the number of trucks carrying durian to China a day cannot be counted. If we do well, agricultural products exported to this market will increase sharply, ” Mr. Tien said.

According to a representative of the Plant Protection Department, this year, there are many Protocols signed for official exports to China. On January 8, China abolished the Zero Covid policy, the Plant Protection Department directed the units at the border gate to arrange personnel and resources to support export enterprises.

Previously, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said that: Export of vegetables and fruits to China would “explode” in 2023 when the country abolished its Covid-19 control policy. Export turnover of this industry can bring in 4 billion USD in 2023.

Exports of crab, shrimp, fruits, and vegetables to China will explode in 2023. (Photo: Internet)

Regarding China’s Orders 248 and 249, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa – Deputy Director of the SPS Vietnam Office – said that: Many enterprises have not yet completed their dossiers to prove the management of processing supervision in accordance with regulations.

China has extended until June 30, 2023. After this time, the Chinese customs will review and remove enterprises that have not yet been complete from the list. It means that these enterprises cannot export goods to China, Mr. Hoa noted./.