US Fresh Potatoes Gain Access to Vietnam

The National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) are pleased to announce U.S. fresh potatoes, including chip and table-stock, may now enter Vietnam. This access is based on an agreement reached between the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Vietnam has a population of 78 million people and is a promising market for U.S. potatoes. Based on market research conducted by the USPB, Vietnam will provide immediate opportunities for U.S. chipping potatoes, and demand for table-stock potatoes will grow over time.

During July 2008-June 2009, China exported 74,478 metric tons of fresh potatoes, mainly chip-stock, to Vietnam, valued at over $8 million. The current Vietnamese fresh potato tariff is 20 percent. In July 2010, the USPB will initiate a Vietnam market development program for chipping potatoes.

Gaining market access for US fresh potatoes to Vietnam was initiated by a letter to APHIS from the NPC in February 2009. Additional support was provided by the USPB during a visit to Vietnam in April 2009 and during an official visit by MARD staff to California in June 2009. During this visit to negotiate the framework for a US potato market access agreement, MARD officials visited potato growers and production facilities in this region.   

The NPC and USPB would like to thank all of the people at APHIS and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the state potato organizations and MARD for their hard work and dedication to opening the market for U.S. potatoes. 

Requirements for shipping US fresh potatoes are now on the APHIS Excerpt database system, which will allow the issuance of phytosanitary certificates. An export permit will also be required for shipments to Vietnam.

For more information on the Vietnam import protocols for table-stock and chip-stock, please contact John Keeling at the NPC [email protected] or John Toaspern at the USPB [email protected]