A cross-border cold-chain highway truck transported 28 tons of fresh lemons from Chongqing, China, to Vietnam, covering 1,300 km in 48 hours. This marked the inaugural direct supply of Tongnan lemons to Vietnam via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, reducing transit time from six days to two.
"The new service has helped our lemons reach Vietnamese consumers' tables as quickly as possible," stated Hu Zaiyang, a local fruit dealer manager. Tongnan, located at 30 degrees northern latitude, is recognized for its acidic soil and favorable irrigation, positioning it alongside global lemon producers like California and Sicily.
Seventy percent of China's lemon exports originate from Tongnan, reaching over 30 countries. In 2024, the district exported 39,000 tons, generating 265 million yuan (approximately 36.75 million USD). In Q1 2025, exports hit 6,200 tons, a 7.9% year-on-year increase.
Huang Guanyi, overseas sales manager of a Chongqing agricultural company, noted, "We shipped over 4,000 tons of lemons to overseas markets, mainly Southeast Asian countries, last year, supplying more than 4,000 beverage stores abroad." Chinese beverage brands like Gongcha and Mixue are gaining traction in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore.
As of January 2024, Mixue operated over 36,000 stores globally, with nearly 4,000 in 11 overseas countries, leading the freshly brewed tea beverage market in Southeast Asia. The Malaysia Tongnan Lemon Trading Center began operations in Kuala Lumpur in September 2024, promoting trade and joint branding for ASEAN markets.
Singapore and other regions host Tongnan lemon warehouses and innovation hubs, enhancing trade and digital agriculture. Fu Qiang, a Tongnan lemon industry official, emphasized strengthening technical guidance and quality control to expand overseas markets.
Source: Xinhua