Laotian banana exports hit by China border closure

According to local media (农财网香蕉通), banana traders have reported challenges recently shipping bananas to China from Laotian production sites. Located on the border with Laos, Mohan Port in Yunnan province is a major entry point for Laotian bananas into China and the only national-level tier 1 port between the two countries. Reports from Oct. 8, however, indicated that the port would remain closed for at least a week, refusing entry and exit to trucks after a substitute driver tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. On Oct. 6, the Health Commission of Yunnan Province announced that a cross-border substitute cargo driver at Mohan Port had tested positive for the virus. Several Laotian banana traders have confirmed the suspension of freight transport at the border, making it difficult for Laotian bananas to pass customs in the short term. In the meantime, some of the produce has been transferred to cold storage, although the fruit’s storage lifespan is limited. According to the Vientiane ...