According to statistics, in the first quarter of 2025 alone, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover to China dropped sharply by 31.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching just over USD 521 million. Notably, two key products — durian and jackfruit — often referred to as the “pillar” of Vietnam’s fruit export sector, are now facing a series of new barriers related to quality and technical control.

This decline not only causes major economic losses but also poses significant challenges for businesses in maintaining their competitive position in the Chinese market.

Reasons behind the difficulties in exporting fruits to China

Import control tighter than ever

China, the largest importer of Vietnam's fruits, has strengthened inspection measures for imported agricultural products. Specifically, 100% of durian and jackfruit shipments must be inspected before customs clearance. Each shipment is required to have a Test Report issued by a laboratory recognized by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Particularly, Chinese authorities strictly inspect residues of Cadmium (Cd) and Auramine O (Vàng O) — two substances that can seriously impact consumer health.

Fierce competition in the region

In addition to technical barriers, competition from other ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines is causing Vietnam to gradually lose its advantage if product quality is not improved to fully meet China’s increasingly stringent requirements.

The growing competition from ASEAN countries is eroding the competitive edge of Vietnamese agricultural products

Inconsistent product quality

In reality, some shipments of Vietnam’s durian and jackfruit still fail to fully meet the standards for phytosanitary inspection and food safety when exported to China.

Notably, in the first quarter of 2025, there were 30 shipments of Vietnamese durian that were flagged by Chinese Customs due to chemical residues exceeding permissible limits and failure to meet quarantine requirements.

Common violations include:

• Pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits.

• Detection of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) above regulated thresholds.

• Presence of banned substance Auramine O in products.

• Errors in the declaration of planting area codes and packing facility codes.

These incidents not only led to the rejection of shipments and significant financial losses for businesses but also severely damaged the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in the Chinese market.

Additionally, China has issued warnings and requested Vietnam to strictly review the production, packaging, and quality control processes for fruits before export.

This serves as a strong wake-up call for the entire industry: without swift standardization of product quality, Vietnamese businesses risk losing the market to competitors in the region.

Solutions for successful export of durian and jackfruit — Recommendations from Vinacontrol experts

Faced with increasingly stringent requirements from the Chinese market, exporting businesses must proactively implement the following solutions to increase their chances of success:

Standardize testing processes from the start

Each exported batch of durian and jackfruit must be accompanied by a GACC-compliant Test Report. Key indicators such as cadmium and Auramine O must be strictly controlled to ensure they are within permissible limits, thereby shortening customs clearance time and avoiding unnecessary risks.

Strictly comply with technical requirements

Businesses must fully implement inspection steps according to regulations, including:

• Analysis of pesticide residues.

• Food safety testing according to international standards.

• Accurate phytosanitary inspections with complete documentation.

Strict compliance will minimize the risk of shipment rejections or penalties from import inspection authorities.

Vinacontrol — A trusted partner for agricultural exports to China

Vinacontrol is proud to be designated by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to analyze cadmium and Auramine O indicators in exported agricultural products. With over 67 years of experience in inspection, testing, certification, and verification, Vinacontrol is committed to supporting businesses in:

• Inspecting and sampling durian, jackfruit, and/or soil, water, fertilizer, materials, and growing media at risk of cadmium or Auramine O contamination, helping businesses control residue risks from the source.

• Inspecting, sampling, and sealing goods at warehouses, consolidation areas, or collection points to ensure export conditions meet standards.

• Analyzing cadmium and Auramine O content using methods designated by regulatory authorities.

• Supervising the loading process into containers/transport vehicles, recording photos, issuing reports, and sealing immediately after loading.

• Issuing Test Reports in designated formats, fully detailing information directly related to the inspected, sampled, and monitored shipments.

• Providing technical consulting and professional support on export standards as well as other services offered by Vinacontrol.

Vinacontrol is designated by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to analyze cadmium and Auramine O indicators in exported agricultural products

Benefits for businesses choosing Vinacontrol’s services

• Comprehensive quality control: Supporting the inspection of durian and jackfruit quality from the farming stage, before procurement, through to the loading and sealing of containers/transport vehicles.
• Fast and accurate analysis: Determining cadmium (Cd) and Auramine O content in agricultural products to ensure compliance with Chinese technical requirements.
• Minimized risk of shipment rejection: Early detection and handling of non-compliant shipments, helping businesses reduce the risk of warnings or import refusals.
• Optimized costs: Saving on inspection, sampling, testing, and loading supervision costs while accelerating customs clearance processes.

For all service inquiries, please contact Vinacontrol via Hotline/Zalo: 0243 943 3840 for the best consultation and support!