As of September 12, a total of 874 trucks had got stuck at the provincial border gates. This included 473 trucks carrying fruits, 131 trucks with other types of cargo, and 270 vehicles parked outside the border gate areas with unidentified goods.

The number of trucks stranded at the border gates has been on the rise over the past few days. It increased by 101 vehicles compared to September 11 and by 294 from September 10. Moreover, it was 503 more than on September 9 and 550 more than on September 8.

The increase in vehicles carrying fruits from various parts of the country to the border gates is attributed to the rising number of stranded vehicles. However, customs clearance over the past few days has been maintained at a capacity of over 1,000 vehicles a day.

According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, Vietnam’s fruit exports to China remain normal. There has been no notice from China regarding a halt in importing Vietnamese fruits.

Previously, the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was informed by Chinese authorities that some batches containing Vietnamese bananas, mangoes, jackfruit, and dragon fruit needed to undergo plant quarantine.

A lack of effective control over product quality in planting areas and packaging facilities was cited as the major reason for failure to meet Chinese requirements. This has harmed the reputation of Vietnamese fruits and could result in enterprises losing market share.

The General Department of Taxation’s report showed that in the first seven months, Vietnam’s fruit exports reached US$3.3 billion, an increase of 68.1% compared to the previous year. China is Vietnam’s largest fruit buyer, accounting for around 60% of the total export value.

Source: Saigon Times