Hanoi (VNA) – China remains the largest buyer ofVietnam’s agricultural products, so Vietnamese businesses are makingpreparations to boost exports to this market when it recovers after theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, agriculturalexports to China in the first two months of 2020 dropped 22.2 percent to 658million USD from the same period last year, but the market retained itsposition as the top destination for Vietnamese farm produce.

Over the last few days, customs clearance atborder gates has resumed.

The Kim Thanh International Border Gate No. 2 inthe northern province of Lao Cai has recorded about 100 trucks shipping goods,mainly agricultural products like dragon fruit and watermelon, to China eachday.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of theVietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, told the Dau tu (Vietnam InvestmentReview) newspaper that trading activities between Vietnam and China aregradually regaining pre-pandemic levels. The Chinese Government has also taken measuresto recover trade with other countries.

He recommended businesses promote quality andfood safety and keep prices competitive to capitalise on chances to foster exportsafter the epidemic.

Chanh Thu Fruit Export – Import Company, basedin the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, recently exported batches of dragonfruit to China.

Deputy Director of the company Ngo Tuong Vy has recognisedpositive signs in the neighbouring market, but is still cautious since theCOVID-19 pandemic remains complex and consumption demand in China has yet tostabilise.

The price of farm produce and accompaniedservices like transportation have increased, requiring firms to respond to marketfluctuations, she said.

Vy noted her business has prepared for 2020,suggesting other companies and farmers should also take into account the worst-casescenarios. If the market is unable to recover in the second and third quarters,this year should be the time for them to restructure cultivation areas andproduction processes.

Bagico JSC, a fruit exporter based in thenorthern province of Bac Giang, is also making more plans to cope with anypossible changes in the market.

Bagico Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuc saidthat though exports of agricultural products to China by road are graduallyrecovering, companies should also consider shipments by sea. As exports by seatake more time, they need to make thorough preparations in terms of processingand preservation.

In 2019, the Tam Vu Dragon Fruit Cooperative inthe Mekong Delta province of Long An exported seven containers of red dragonfruit to China by sea.

Director Truong Quang An said apart from China,the cooperative is considering shipping the fruit by sea to other markets likeMalaysia, Thailand and the Middle East./.