Since the lychee season began, Vietnam has exported more than 16,000 tonnes of fresh lychee to China, worth a total of about US$11 million.

According to the Lao Cai International Border Customs Department under Regional Customs Sub-Department 7, about 1,500 trucks of lychee entered China through Kim Thanh International Border Gate No. 2 from the start of the season to 14 June.

Officials said the number of lychee trucks crossing the border will rise further as the harvest in Bac Ninh province has peaked since 10 June. A representative of the Lao Cai Economic Zone Authority said 70 to 100 trucks a day can carry lychee along this route.

Border guards are currently directing all lychee trucks arriving at the border to a special parking area, which holds about 100 vehicles and is run under the supervision of officials on round-the-clock duty.

Once customs paperwork is complete, the trucks are sent directly to the supervision zone, where export clearance formalities are completed. Guidance on the required procedures and documents was published in advance so that traders could prepare and avoid congestion.

The Lao Cai Economic Zone Authority said it met in early May on traffic management and staff deployment. As a result, customs work can begin 45 to 60 minutes before the border officially opens.

Officials say fresh farm produce, especially lychee, is being given priority throughout the process, with rapid morning clearance arranged to protect the quality of the fruit.

This report is based on VnExpress.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.