Vietnam: Fresh coconuts quenching new overseas markets

Vietnam’s fresh coconuts are being increasingly consumed in international markets such as the US, China, and the UK, highlighting a bright spot in Vietnam's fruit export sector with many opportunities for breakthroughs in the near future. Vietnam holds the 6th position in the global coconut market in terms of cultivation area and output. With roughly 200,000ha of plantations, the country produces 2 million tonnes of the nuts annually. This production capacity has enabled Vietnam to export coconuts to 15 foreign markets, with 30,000 tonnes. To maximise the strength of coconuts as a naturally clean fruit with a long shelf life, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has negotiated a protocol with China for fresh coconut exports since 2016, according to Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department Nguyen Quang Hieu. Vietnamese coconuts have been exported to Western markets since 2017, with Vina T&T pioneering the entry into the US market, previously dominated ...