SBT exports the first batch of South American bananas to South Korea on February 7.— Photo courtesy of the firm

Thanh Thanh Cong – Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (SBT) exported its first batch of South American bananas to South Korea on Sunday.

According to a representative of the firm, South Korea is a relatively fastidious market with many strict quality requirements, adding the shipment had more than 90 per cent of bananas at 'A' level while most exported banana shipments in the region are made up of less than 50 per cent of 'A' level fruits.

The representative said: “The first batch marks the initial success of the co-operation project between SBT and Korean Dole Asia Holding.”

The two sides worked together for nearly a year on purchase, sale and technology transfer co-operation in the South American banana planting project in Viet Nam from March 2020 in Thanh Long Farm.

The production process followed the international standards of Dole Asia Holding, with strict control procedures and quarantine and disinfection stations.

SBT said the project applied many advanced techniques and sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions and expected to expand 300 hectares of bananas each year.

To become the leading provider of sustainable and sourced agricultural products in Southeast Asia, the South American banana project aims to help STB diversify its products, improve agricultural value chains and expand markets.

Along with the South Korean market, banana products will be boosted for domestic consumption and export to many countries such as Japan and Malaysia, said the representative.

Currently, SBT is the leading sugar cane enterprise with nearly half of the local market share with brands of Bien Hoa sugar, Co Ba sugar and other organic sugar. — VNS