Coronavirus concerns see China halt Vietnam’s US$1 billion dragon fruit trade
- China is the top destination for Vietnamese dragon fruit – representing over 80 per cent of total shipments and amounting to US$1 billion a year
- Authorities in the Guangxi region, bordering Vietnam, found traces of coronavirus on packaging and cardboard boxes shipped from Quang Ninh province
China has suspended imports of dragon fruit from Vietnam following the detection of coronavirus, temporarily halting a US$1 billion market as Beijing continues its vigorous testing of inbound food shipments for virus risk.
Imports of the tropical fruit have been suspended for a week beginning on Wednesday, Vietnam’s trade ministry said on its website.
Authorities in China’s Guangxi region, bordering Vietnam, informed the ministry of the halt after the coronavirus was found on packaging and cardboard boxes shipped from Quang Ninh province.
“It is quite a rare incident,” said Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association. “Workers at fruit-processing factories are required by the government to stay on site, test against Covid-19 regularly, and they are vaccinated.”
China is the top destination for Vietnamese dragon fruit – representing over 80 per cent of total shipments and amounting to US$1 billion a year, according to Nguyen.