Lychees being transported from the airport. Photo: Dang Giang.

The shipment was exported by Mova Plus Joint Stock Company (Czech Republic), departing from Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) and arriving in Paris. From there, the lychees are distributed primarily to major markets such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Norway. With wholesale prices at major markets ranging from €7.2 to €8 per kilogram, Tan Yen’s early-season lychees are not only demonstrating their premium quality but also their competitiveness on the global stage.

The main destination for the shipment is Rungis International Market — the world’s largest wholesale food market — located approximately 7km from central Paris. Covering over 234 hectares with an estimated annual turnover exceeding €10 billion, Rungis serves as a vital food distribution hub for nearly 18 million consumers across France and other European countries. The fruit and vegetable section of the market, where Vietnamese lychees are traded, handles approximately 1.1 million tonnes of produce annually.

With their sweet, delicate flavour and uniform quality, Tan Yen lychees have quickly won the favour of European consumers. In addition to fresh lychees, frozen lychee products are also gaining popularity. Rungis is also a key distribution point for other Vietnamese agricultural exports such as passion fruit, dragon fruit, fresh coconuts, and premium aromatic rice.

Quality inspection of Vietnamese lychees upon arrival in France. Photo: Dang Giang.

A representative from Mova Plus noted that air freight ensures the freshness of the lychees while meeting the stringent quality control standards required in the European market. The advanced cold storage and logistics systems at Rungis play an essential role in maintaining product quality from arrival to final delivery.

The presence of Vietnamese lychees at Rungis is not only an economic achievement but also a strategic step forward in promoting Vietnamese agricultural products globally. Vietnamese enterprises have been actively participating in trade fairs and networking events at Rungis to explore long-term partnerships and expand the market for high-quality agricultural goods.

This recent lychee shipment is a testament to the relentless efforts of Vietnamese businesses in penetrating international markets and underscores the growing global footprint of Vietnamese produce.