Export Code Fraud Threatens Vietnam’s Durian Trade With China

According to a report by online newspaper VnExpress, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association recently reported that some individuals have been using fake farming area and packaging facility codes to export durians to China. These fraudulent activities are said to be on the increase, causing significant losses for legitimate code owners.

The association’s general secretary, Dang Phuc Nguyen, said that they had recently received a number of complaints from legitimate exporters about these activities. For instance, the packaging facility code (VN-BTPH-036) belonging to Vina T&T, one of Vietnam’s largest fruit export companies, was reportedly misused to illegally export durians to China.

In the case reported by Vina T&T, the signature and stamp of Vo Huu Truong, the head of its office in Ben Tre province, were allegedly forged to sign a contract on Dec. 10. This fraudulent contract granted another company, Eureka Marketing, permission to use its code to export durians to China.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T, clarified that the company has never authorized any other individual or organization to use its packaging facility code. He also expressed concern that these illegal exports could harm the company’s reputation.

Several farming area codes have also been misused by fraudsters, resulting in Chinese customs revoking some of them after the detection of excessive cadmium levels in some shipments of durians. Although the affected durians did not belong to the legitimate holders of the codes, these companies still had to bear the losses.

In response to this situation, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association is urging relevant government departments to strengthen their inspections and supervision while taking decisive action against illegal activities. The association proposes establishing a database to manage farming area and packaging facility codes, enhancing information transparency and product traceability. It also recommends publishing a list of legitimate entities and details of violations to deter fraud. Furthermore, Vietnam is encouraged to collaborate with importing countries to ensure thorough control and effectively address violations.

Currently, Vietnam has a durian cultivation area of around 154,000 hectares, with an annual production of nearly 1.2 million metric tons and an annual growth rate of approximately 15%. Vietnam’s durian export value is expected to reach $3.2 billion in 2024, marking a 40% increase from 2023. With the opening up of the Chinese market to Vietnamese frozen durian pulp and durian paste products in 2025, the export value is anticipated to increase further.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.