Coconuts are sold in Cho Gao District in the southern province of Tien Giang. Viet Nam has about 150,000ha under coconut cultivation, with an average yearly output of 720 million nuts.

Previously, exports were confined to such coconut bi-product as fibre, coal, desiccated coconut and active carbon.

And when a private company shipped 6,000 fresh coconuts to Japan in a 15-degree container about two years ago, they were rejected on arrival at a great cost to the exporter.

The new technology allows exporters to pack and maintain the quality of fresh coconuts for up to six weeks.

The chemical substances used in the process, Metabisulfit natri, Hydroxit canxi 1 per cent and Benzonate natri 0.5 per cent, are recognised throughout the world as safe.

The chemical process was cheap when measured against the profits from the export of fresh coconut, said key researcher Tran Thi Yen Thao.

The researchers calculate the price of an export coconut at VND21,000 (US$1.23) against the domestic price of VND5,000 ($0.29) with potential profits up to 14-fold higher.

Many exporters of fresh coconuts want to use the new technology this year.

A lovely bunch

A scientific survey by the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that Viet Nam has about 150,000ha under coconut with an average yearly output of 720 million nuts.

Most of the trees are in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta but plantings on the central coast have expanded quickly to meet the demand of the domestic and export markets.

For example, Ben Tre Province had 35,000ha of trees in 2003 but that figures has grown to more than 40,000ha with a yearly production of 300 million coconuts.

The southern province plans to plant an extra 5,000ha by 2010.

The Ben Tre People’s Committee reports that revenue from exported coconuts totalled $66 million last year or about 40 per cent of the province’s total export revenue.

The export of the bi-products copra realised $23 million and coir $11 million.

Viet Nam’s noted coconut varieties prized for their milk include Xiem, Eo and Tam Quan.

The fresh export coconuts satisfy Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) quality standards.

Viet Nam sells fresh coconuts to North America, South Korea, Japan, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

VietNamNet/VNS