Prioritizing Immediate Customs Clearance for Exported Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Products

The General Department of Customs has issued a directive to facilitate and prioritize immediate customs clearance for exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products—especially durian.

On May 28, 2025, the General Department of Customs (under the Ministry of Finance) issued Official Letter No. 6491/CHQ-GSQL to local Customs Sub-Departments regarding the export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and durian.

In implementation of the Prime Minister’s directives in Official Telegram No. 59/CD-TTg dated May 8, 2025, on ensuring production, consumption, and export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products amid global trade fluctuations, and Official Telegram No. 71/CD-TTg dated May 23, 2025, on promoting sustainable durian production and export, the General Department of Customs requests that local Customs Sub-Departments instruct subordinate units to:

Illustrative image: Customs clearance of goods

Firstly, facilitate and prioritize immediate customs clearance for exported agricultural, forestry, and fishery products—especially durian and other perishable goods or products in peak harvest season. Promptly resolve any issues arising during the customs clearance process for these exports.

Secondly, closely coordinate with relevant authorities to regularly update the situation and promptly provide exporters of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products with information on import and tariff policies of foreign markets through border checkpoints.

Thirdly, strictly handle any cases causing unnecessary difficulties for businesses.

Previously, in Official Telegram No. 59/CD-TTg, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to proactively respond to impacts from global trade instability, ensure stable production and consumption of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, and improve incomes and livelihoods for citizens. Ministers of Agriculture and Environment, Industry and Trade, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, and Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees were tasked with closely monitoring global trade developments and promptly implementing effective, flexible measures to address challenges.

They were also instructed to ensure timely dissemination of information so that production, business, and export enterprises in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries can proactively adapt to changing import and tariff policies in foreign markets, thereby stabilizing production and exports.

Enterprises engaged in the production, trading, and export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products are advised to closely monitor global trade trends to flexibly adjust their business plans. They should focus on developing value chains, investing in raw material zones, cold storage systems, and applying modern technologies in deep processing and preservation, as well as building their brands.

In addition, they should keep up-to-date with import policies of target markets to avoid being caught off-guard by unexpected regulatory changes. Increasing reserves of agricultural and fishery products, especially during peak harvest seasons, is recommended to support consumption and facilitate deep processing and quality enhancement.

In recent years, Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery production—especially food production—has remained stable, with consistent year-over-year growth. In 2024, export value reached a record high of USD 62.5 billion.

Among these, durian is one of the fastest-growing and highest-value agricultural exports, playing a significant role in the country’s fruit and vegetable export turnover. According to reports, in 2024, durian cultivation covered nearly 180,000 hectares with an estimated output of 1.5 million tons. Export turnover reached approximately USD 3.2 billion, accounting for 47% of the total export value of fruits and vegetables.

(Source: Ưu tiên thông quan ngay nông lâm thủy sản xuất khẩu)