Actively supporting the export of fresh lychees

– This year’s lychee harvest was as soon as the Covid-19 epidemic had complicated developments, greatly affecting export. In order to create favorable conditions for enterprises to export lychee, the authorities in the province have systematically implemented many solutions.

At this time, Hai Duong, Bac Giang provinces have entered the lychee main harvest season. It is estimated that in the crop year 2021, the output of Thanh Ha lychee (Hai Duong) will reach about 90 thousand tons; Luc Ngan lychee (Bac Giang) reached about 114 thousand tons. The goal of these two provinces is to export about 50% of the total harvest, the major export market is still China (accounting for about 40%).

However, before the complicated development of the epidemic, the export of fresh lychee fruit at this time is facing some difficulties.

Mr. Phung Van Ba, Deputy Director of Tan Thanh Border Gate Customs Branch said: “From May 8 to the end of May 22, the output of fresh lychee exported through the border gate reached more than 160 tons, with a turnover of 39,188 USD, down more than 35% compared to the previous year. The main reason is due to the influence of the Covid-19 epidemic, the purchasing activities of Chinese traders have plummeted because they have to buy and sell through intermediaries (in previous years, during the lychee season, Chinese traders came to lychee growing area themselves to find and sign a purchase and sale contract).”

Officers of Tan Thanh Border Gate Plant Quarantine Station inspected the quality of exported lychees

Not only such goods as fresh lychee exported through Tan Thanh border gate decreased, but from the beginning of May 2021 up to now, the output of fresh lychees exported through Huu Nghi International Border Gate has also decreased. Accordingly, from May 10, 2021 to the end of May 22, the output of fresh lychees exported through Huu Nghi International Border Gate reached just over 40 tons, down 56% compared to the same period in 2020.

In that context, in order to support other provinces in exporting fresh lychees and fruits through the provincial border gates, right from the beginning of May 2021, the Provincial People’s Committee has issued a document directing the provincial authorities, the forces at the border gate to continue implementing systematically many solutions to support and create the most favorable conditions for lychee of the provinces of Bac Giang, Hai Duong, etc. to be exported.

Following that direction, at Tan Thanh Border Gate (the border gate with the largest export volume of fresh lychee in the Northern region), the forces here have developed a specific plan, creating conditions for trucks carrying fresh lychees to experience fastest customs clearance  Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duc Trinh, Head of Tan Thanh Border Guard Station, said: “Our unit has arranged staff to be on duty and separate lanes for trucks carrying lychee from Bac Giang and Hai Duong, which helps these trucks carrying fresh fruit to avoid congestion, thereby contributing to ensuring faster export of fresh lychee trucks.”

At this time, the import and export activities of goods through the border gates of the province, especially the export activities, face certain difficulties. However, the forces at the border gate, especially the customs force at the border gates such as Tan Thanh and Huu Nghi, always actively coordinate with other forces to facilitate fresh lychee shipments for first export and fastest customs clearance.

Trucks carrying fresh lychee through Tan Thanh Border Gate

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Vuong, Deputy Director of Lang Son Customs Department, fresh lychee products are currently included in the list of priority items by the customs authority, with almost no physical inspection required. There is only post-customs clearance inspection, therefore, including the time for procedures, each truck carrying fresh lychees for export only takes about 3 minutes to pass through the border gate.

Not only the force at the border gate, currently, the provincial police force also developed a detailed plan to separate, guide and regulate traffic, so as to prevent congestion on the roads to the border gate and on highways.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dai, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said: “Following the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee, the functional branches of the province are promoting exchanges and coordination with the functional agencies of Guangxi (China) to continue creating favorable for customs clearance of goods, especially shortening the time for China’s import procedures, increasing the time allowed for customs clearance, working on weekends and holidays. In particular, we recommended Chinese authorities to also separate, prioritize fresh fruits, including fresh lychee for export.

With the measures being implemented, Lang Son province is accompanying other provinces to promote the export of fresh lychee products. Agencies and functional forces of Lang Son are committed to creating maximum favorable conditions for fresh lychee products exported through border gates in the area.

“The plant quarantine unit at the border gates is ready to create the most favorable conditions for the fastest clearance of fresh lychees. However, in order to ensure that fresh lychee exports are not “turned back”, the provinces of Hai Duong and Bac Giang also need to require lychee exporters and lychee growers to fully comply with the requirements on traceability, labels, regulations on plant quarantine…”Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Director of the Plant Quarantine Branch of Region 7, Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.