Fresh Coconut Exports Expected to Surge

The first shipment of 2,700 fresh coconuts, weighing 21.6 tons and valued at approximately USD 15,000, has entered China through the Hekou border gate (Yunnan). On the same day, another shipment, weighing 22.4 tons and valued at around USD 14,000, cleared customs through the Youyi Guan border gate (Guangxi). These shipments mark the result of efforts to promote the export of high-quality agricultural products and optimize the cold supply chain between the two countries.

Mr. Cao Bá Đăng Khoa, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Coconut Association, noted that many businesses have signed large export contracts, with quantities ranging from 30 to 50 containers, and some orders reaching up to 1,500 containers. The association forecasts that fresh coconut exports to China could reach USD 250 million this year, accounting for 25% of the total export value of the sector. This presents a significant challenge for the logistics industry to ensure the transportation and preservation of large volumes of fresh coconuts.

Fresh coconut exports are expected to rise sharply in the near future

For the logistics sector, this development demands a revolution in transportation and warehousing. Road transport processes across border gates need to be optimized to ensure fast and efficient delivery times. With modern preservation technology capable of extending the shelf life of fresh coconuts up to 70 days, the logistics industry must invest heavily in cold storage systems and specialized refrigerated trucks.

Mr. Nguyễn Đình Tùng, CEO of Vina T&T Group, shared plans to collaborate with a Chinese logistics company to boost fresh coconut exports. This underscores the importance of building strategic partnerships in international logistics to support exports. The goal of delivering Vietnamese fruit to northern China and Inner Mongolia requires an efficient cross-border distribution and transportation system.

With a coconut planting area of about 200,000 hectares and an annual production of 2 million tons, Vietnam has significant potential to meet the growing demand of the Chinese market. However, to maintain and expand market share, the logistics sector must continuously enhance its capabilities, particularly in cold transport and preservation. Developing traceability systems has also become essential to meet the increasing demands of export markets.

To fully capitalize on this opportunity, Vietnam’s logistics sector needs to focus on investing in technology for cold supply chain tracking and management, developing specialized warehouses and transport vehicles for fresh coconuts. Optimizing customs clearance and cross-border transportation processes is also crucial to improving export efficiency.

With the strong growth of the coconut industry and new opportunities from the Chinese market, Vietnam’s logistics sector stands before a golden opportunity to affirm its important role in the agricultural export value chain. Success in transporting and preserving fresh coconuts to this billion-person market will pave the way for other agricultural products, helping boost export growth and Vietnam’s overall economic development.