The United States of America Department of Agriculture has authorized the importation of fresh rambutan fruit from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico as traditional Latin American suppliers can no longer meet the increasing demand.
Based on pest risk analysis, the US Department of Agriculture found that fresh rambutan from the three countries meet technical standards and designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing plant pests or noxious weeds. One measure includes commercial consignments strictly limited to continental United States.
Special phytosanitary measures are required for rambutan from Malaysia. First, all products must be inspected by the national plant protection organization of Malaysia to ensure that it is free of the fungus Oidium nephelii. The fresh fruits are required to be irradiated with a minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy.
Surge of Vietnam exports
Rambutan exports to the US surged strongly a few days before the 2012 Chinese New Year, according to the Plant Protection Department of Vietnam. The amount of orders for rambutan shoot up from 2-4 containers per week to about 20 containers, reaching up to 9-10 freight containers per day.
Before 2012, Vietnam could not compete with South American suppliers. The price of Vietnamese rambutan exported via airway was USD 6.7 per kilo, a lot more expensive than the South American counterparts at USD 3 per kilo. Despite the price difference, exports from Vietnam continued to increase because rambutan from competitors were off-season.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said that rambutan accounted for the largest export earnings of any Vietnamese fruit in 2009, with USD 2.5 million. Markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Korea, and the Netherlands were the top importers. With the US authorization, export earnings are projected to shoot up in 2012.
This rise in demand can be also be accounted for the improvement of fruit quality. Farmers in the provinces within the Mekong Delta have obtained Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certificates. These include 31 hectares in Vinh Long province and 81 hectares in the Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces.
- Rambutan from Mexico. Image is from www.mexicowoods.com
Increasing production in Mexico
The president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Rambutan in Chiapas, Mexico signed an agreement with a group of Chinese businessmen to ship 100 tons of fresh rambutan each week to European, Asian, and North American markets. It was estimated that Mexico produced 7,000 tonnes of rambutan in 2011 and exports 5,000 tonnes to international markets. The production was a record for Mexico, since only 300 tonnes were exported in 2010 and 50 tonnes from 2000-2009.
Canned Costa Rican rambutan
Export of fresh Costa Rican rambutan has declined because of Mexico’s strong supply. Jorge Sanchez, executive director of the Foundation Proagroin believes that canning could revive exports, as this is a common value-adding practice.
References
- Laprensa. “Mexico: U.S. and Canada demand more rambutan”. Laprensa. 31 September 2011. <Retrieved from http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=85024 on 2 Feb 2012>
- “Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Rambutan Fruit From Malaysia and Vietnam”.Federal Register. 19 April 2011. Vol. 76, No. 75. [Docket No. APHIS–2010–0104].
- “Notice of Decision To Allow Interstate Movement of Rambutan From Puerto Rico into the Continental United States”.Federal Register. 7 October 2011. Vol. 76, No. 195. [Docket No. APHIS–2011–0037]
- Notimex. “Mexico: The first container of rambutan departs for the U.S. and Canada”. Notimex. Retrieved from http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=80266 on 2 Feb 2012>
- Nguyen, T. Vietnamese. “Rambutan appreciated in the US market”. Vietnam Export News. 19 November 2011 <Retrieved from http://www.vietnamexportnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41314:vietnamese-rambutan-appreciated-in-the-us-market&catid=605:international-markets&Itemid=1134 on 2 Feb 2012>
- Thai, P. “Rambutan exports to U.S. surge”.The Saigon Daily Times. 12 January 2012. <Retrieved from: http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/21393/ on 2 Feb 2012>
- Tuoi Tre. “Vietnam rambutan exports rise along with quality”.Tuoi Tre News. 12 September 2011 <Retrieved from: http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/vietnam-rambutan-exports-rise-along-with-quality-1.43996?localLinksEnabled=false on 2 Feb 2012>
- Villegas, I.C. “Costa Rica: Canned rambutan ready in 2012”.El Financiero. 13 October 2011. <Retrieved from: http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=87383 on 2 Feb 2012>
- VNS. “Plenty of good fruit, but prices too low”.Viet Nam News. 31 December 2011. <Retrieved from: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Agriculture/219288/plenty-of-good-fruit-but-prices-too-low.html on 2 Feb 2012>