Tra Vinh’s signature organic Macapuno targets the Chinese market

Macapuno - gaining access into the billion-people market

Macapuno has existed in Tra Vinh Province for nearly 100 years; however, it only gained widespread public recognition in 2000, and subsequently became a specialty fruit of Cau Ke District.

To date, the Macapuno production area in Tra Vinh Province spans over 1,270 hectares, accounting for 4.67% of the province's total coconut area. This figure includes 31 hectares of tissue-cultured Macapuno and 70 hectares of VietGAP-compliant, organic coconut production area that utilizes assisted pollination methods. Regular Macapuno produces wax in only 20 to 30% of the coconuts, whereas tissue-cultured Macapuno produces wax in 75 to 80% of the fruits per bunch, offering economic value ten times higher compared to regular coconuts.

Despite its high economic potential, farmers in Tra Vinh primarily sell Macapuno as fresh fruits, with limited involvement from businesses in the production chain. On the other hand, prices for Macapuno products are relatively unstable. Farmers mainly sell their Macapuno through local traders in accordance with market fluctuations, without long-term contracts or strong linkages with the business community.

According to Le Van Dong, Deputy Director of Tra Vinh Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as part of the province’s strategy to upgrade the coconut value chain for the years between 2022 and 2025 , Tra Vinh is actively promoting trade and market development through digital platforms such as e-commerce, Facebook, and Zalo, with the aim of promoting the province’s specialty products to international customers.

"In October, the province will welcome a delegation from the Chinese Consulate General to promote trade for coconut and Macapuno products. This is an opportunity for Tra Vinh to showcase its OCOP products and boost the export of coconuts and Macapuno to the Chinese market. Consequently, this initiative will further strengthen bilateral trade relations between Vietnam and China. Additionally, the province will highlight its potential and advantages to the Chinese Consulate General to attract investment and foster partnerships with Chinese businesses and investors," commented Deputy Director Dong.

According to the Deputy Director, Tra Vinh Macapuno has received official recognition as one of Vietnam’s 50 famous fruit specialties. On August 5, 2024, the Vietnam Coconut Association certified Macapuno trees cultivated in Tra Vinh as "Vietnamese Coconut Trees." The Intellectual Property Office (under the Ministry of Science and Technology) has also granted geographical indication certification for the "Trà Vinh Macapuno" product as well as trademark certification for "Trà Vinh Macapuno" and its geographical indication logo, establishing intellectual property rights for the province’s Macapuno products in the international market.

Tra Vinh currently produces over 100 products processed from Macapuno, including 15 products recognized with a OCOP rating of 3 stars or higher. A notable example includes Cam Hang Macapuno Confectionery (Khom 2, Cau Ke Town), a company that collaborates with intermediaries to supply two export businesses in Ben Tre and Binh Duong with significant volumes of fresh Macapuno fruits annually.

Hoa Tan Macapuno Cooperative currently supports 43 members and a total Macapuno production area of 32 hectares, which includes 25.2 hectares of VietGAP-certified production area. Additionally, the cooperative has produced certified OCOP 4-star products. The cooperative has partnered with businesses and farmers to supply nearly 2 million Macapuno annually to domestic and international markets, with a focus on Hanoi and central provinces. In 2023, the cooperative also signed supply agreements with two companies in Ben Tre and Ho Chi Minh City, thereby significantly increasing Macapuno sales.

As part of the Chinese Consulate General’s visit, the delegation will tour the production site of Vicosap, a young startup in Cau Ke District. Vicosap is currently the only company in Vietnam to specialize in processing a wide range of products from the Cau Ke specialty fruit, Macapuno.

Lam Ngoc Tu, Deputy Director of Vicosap, shared: "We focus not only on processing Macapuno products but also on the health of our consumers. This is why we avoid using coloring agents, chemicals, bleaching agents, or preservatives in our processing."

Vicosap has successfully met multiple quality standards and received various certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, FDA, and HALAL. Its Macapuno products have received praise from both domestic and international customers. Vicosap currently exports its products to major markets around the world, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Deputy Director Tu affirmed that the company’s products are fully qualified to enter the Chinese market.

The goal of developing 6,000 hectares of certified organic coconut production area

According to Tra Vinh’s leadership, the export of Macapuno to China presents a significant opportunity to consolidate the province’s strategy and enhance the value of its Macapuno. With the principle of "placing people and businesses at the center and focusing on development for the benefit of both," Tra Vinh encourages effective cooperation with businesses, investors, international organizations, and partners domestically and internationally.

Le Van Han, Chairman of the Tra Vinh Provincial People’s Committee, re-affirmed the province's willingness to accommodate both domestic and international investors and facilitate the implementation of their projects, thereby promoting the sustainable development of Macapuno in the future.

With the goal of maintaining a stable supply, the province plans to expand its Macapuno production area by an additional 550 hectares. It will also conduct production area planning, promote organic and VietGAP-oriented farming, and adopt advanced breeding technology to improve productivity and quality.

Tra Vinh’s Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection will regularly organize organic farming training to ensure that the local coconut products meet both domestic and export market demands.

Tra Vinh has introduced policies to support organizations and individuals in applying Macapuno seed production technology. It has also implemented digital transformation to promote transparent transactions and encourage businesses to participate in the value chain and invest in deep processing to enhance product value.

Regarding the opportunities for Tra Vinh Macapuno to reach international markets, Cao Ba Dang Khoa, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Coconut Association, emphasized the need to create multiple layers of brand protection when entering foreign markets—from the coconut tree, its varieties, to its products. This protection should extend not only within Vietnam but also internationally to prevent trade fraud, similar to other crops.

Accordingly, Vice Chairman Khoa proposed that Tra Vinh Province collaborate with leading universities nationwide to conduct national-level research and develop Macapuno as an exclusive brand. Subsequently, the province can apply these research findings to build an action plan and create opportunities for investors to participate in development. In addition to the existing Macapuno products, Vice Chairman Khoa highlighted a need to develop additional products to further enhance the value of this specialty coconut.

Tra Vinh Province currently houses approximately 5,100 hectares of organic coconut production area. These coconuts are grown through partnerships between businesses and cooperatives, with the final product being sold at prices 10 to 15% higher than the market rate. At present, over 1,240 hectares of the local coconut production area meet the phytosanitary requirements for exports to the Chinese market.

Tra Vinh Province aims to reach at least 8,000 hectares of organic production area by 2025, with 6,000 hectares achieving international organic certification.