Vietnamese pomelo exported to Australia for the first time: A measure of integration capacity

On October 9, the Plant Production and Protection Department, in collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam, will hold a ceremony to announce the export of Vietnamese pomelos to Australia and Australian blueberries to Viet Nam.

According to Mr. Hoang Trung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, the opening of the Australian market to Vietnamese pomelos holds special significance, reflecting Vietnam’s growing credibility and advanced phytosanitary management capacity.

“This is an important milestone in the country’s integration process, paving the way for Vietnamese fruits to gain deeper access to other high-end markets,” he said.

Australia is widely recognized for its stringent regulations on quarantine, food safety, and product traceability. To be granted market access, Vietnamese pomelos had to undergo an extensive pest risk analysis lasting nearly two years, accompanied by multiple rounds of field inspections, sampling, and laboratory analyses conducted jointly by both sides. Only after successfully meeting these demanding requirements did pomelo become the sixth Vietnamese fruit officially allowed to enter the Australian market - following dragon fruit, mango, lychee, longan, and passion fruit.

According to the Plant Production and Protection Department, each pomelo consignment destined for Australia must comply with a strict set of standards. The fruits must remain whole and undamaged, be completely free from 19 pest species prohibited by Australia, and be cultivated in registered growing areas that have been granted identification codes. In addition, all products must be properly packed, labeled, and irradiated at an approved facility with a minimum dose of 150 Gy to ensure biosecurity.

Before a phytosanitary certificate is issued for any shipment, Vietnamese quarantine authorities conduct random inspections of 600 pomelos to confirm there are no signs of pests, soil, or foreign matter. Upon arrival in Australia, the consignments undergo another round of sampling and inspection by Australian biosecurity officials to verify compliance before being cleared for distribution.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized that meeting all these rigorous standards demonstrates that Vietnam’s agricultural sector is not only striving to open new markets but also upgrading its entire production chain, from seed selection and cultivation area management to post-harvest technology.

“The Australian market serves as a benchmark for Vietnam’s integration capacity and a springboard for Vietnamese agricultural products to reach other demanding markets,” he stressed.

The official export of Vietnamese pomelos to Australia marks another significant step in affirming the growing reputation and brand value of Vietnamese fruits in the international supply chain. To date, Viet Nam has exported pomelos to 14 countries and territories, including the United States, South Korea, and New Zealand.

Over the past decade, the total area under pomelo cultivation in Vietnam has doubled, now exceeding 100,000 hectares with an annual yield of nearly one million tons. In 2024 alone, pomelo exports brought in approximately USD 60 million. Experts believe that this figure could increase substantially in the coming years, as Vietnam continues to leverage its year-round harvest advantage, favorable climate, and cost-effective production model to strengthen its presence in global markets.

To seize this opportunity, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has encouraged local authorities, cooperatives, and enterprises to organize pomelo production through sustainable value chain linkages. They are urged to adopt VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards and maintain comprehensive production logs to ensure transparent traceability. At the same time, all stakeholders must strictly comply with quarantine procedures, strengthen pest monitoring, and invest in irradiation and preliminary processing technologies that meet international standards in order to satisfy the preferences of Australian consumers.

According to the plan, the Plant Production and Protection Department will work closely with localities to provide training and disseminate regulations on quarantine and food safety. The department will also guide the establishment of coded planting areas, packaging facilities, and irradiation centers. The ultimate goal is to form a synchronized production - export chain that guarantees consistent and long-term quality.

On this occasion, Australia is also officially exporting blueberries to Viet Nam, marking a step toward two-way agricultural cooperation. Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized that this move reflects the mutual trust and respect between the two agricultural sectors and opens new prospects for product diversification and balanced trade between the two countries.

Following pomelo, Viet Nam and Australia are considering opening their markets to additional types of fruit. Both countries are also strengthening cooperation in quarantine management, irradiation treatment, and agricultural trade with the shared goal of building a sustainable, two-way supply chain.