Japan now open to Vietnam banana growers

After six months of negotiations, bananas from Vietnam can now be exported to Japan, making it one of the first fresh fruit to gain access to that market, a leading fruit exporter has reported.

Vo Quang Thuan of the Huy Long An Ltd, one of the country’s largest fruit exporters, said that in addition to Japan, bananas have recently gained market entry into the Republic of Korea and Dubai. 

The market openings are great news for Vietnamese banana producers and agricultural exports, said Thuan. Hitherto, China was the only foreign market for bananas, but now prospects for future exports are much improved.

The Japan market is a promising market for bananas, said Le Si Cong, director of La Ba Da Lat Company, another large fruit exporter. During the first month of the year demand was much higher than we anticipated, he noted.

Over the past few years, Vietnam and Japan industries have worked together to develop the scientific research needed to support the phytosanitary negotiations between the two countries.

These efforts, along with strong industry market development, have nurtured and paved the way for exports to this market. In the early going, bananas have sold in Japan at a competitive price, added Cong.