VIENTIANE: China has approved imports of fresh jackfruit from Laos that meet its phytosanitary requirements, opening a new channel for agricultural trade between the two neighbouring countries, according to an announcement by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Monday.
The market opening, based on phytosanitary arrangements reached between the GAC and Laos’ Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, took effect immediately and applies to fresh jackfruit grown and processed in Laos, the GAC said.
Analysts said the approval marked another concrete step in expanding agricultural trade between China and Laos, as closer bilateral cooperation and improved cross-border connectivity create more opportunities for high-quality Lao agricultural products to enter the Chinese market.
The announcement sets out detailed requirements covering orchard and packing-facility management, packaging procedures, pre-export inspection and quarantine, and phytosanitary certification.
Under the requirements, orchards and packing facilities supplying jackfruit to China must be reviewed by Lao authorities and approved and registered by the Chinese side.
Orchards producing jackfruit for export to China must establish comprehensive quality-management and traceability systems under the supervision of Lao authorities, follow Good Agricultural Practices and maintain proper orchard hygiene, according to the announcement.
It said that during the first two years after the relevant protocol takes effect, Lao authorities must inspect samples equivalent to 2% of each shipment of jackfruit bound for China. If a shipment contains fewer than 100 fruits, all of them must be inspected.
The move comes as China-Laos economic and trade cooperation continues to deepen. China is currently Laos’ largest source of investment and its second-largest trading partner, according to Chinese customs data.
Bilateral trade reached US$9.82 billion in 2025, up 19.3% year-on-year. China’s imports from Laos rose 20.7% to US$5.5 billion during the year.
Improved transport connectivity, particularly the China-Laos Railway, has provided a faster logistics route for fresh agricultural products moving between Laos and the Chinese market.
The value of imports and exports transported via the railway reached 6.81 billion yuan (US$950 million) in the first quarter of 2026, up 62.7% year-on-year and setting a record for the same period, according to data from Mengla Customs under Kunming Customs.
Imports of fresh and dried fruit through the railway doubled to 500 million yuan during the period, official data showed.
The market opening also aligns with the direction set out by China and Laos in a joint statement issued in June. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road customs food-safety cooperation mechanism and expand agricultural and food trade while ensuring safety.
The statement called for stronger cooperation on animal and plant quarantine, joint prevention and control of cross-border animal and plant diseases, and faster quarantine approval for high-quality agricultural and food products.
Analysts said broader market access, together with clearer quality-control and traceability standards, could help Laos turn its agricultural resources into more stable export opportunities while giving Chinese consumers access to a wider range of tropical fruits.- Vientiane Times/ANN
