Vietnam ships 1st batch of fresh pomelos to Australia

The exporting ceremony in Dong Thap Province, located in southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, was organized by the provincial People’s Committee in cooperation with Blue Ocean Import Export Trade JSC.

According to Le Chi Thien, deputy head of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dong Thap currently grows pomelos on more than 4,360 hectares, producing over 65,000 metric tons annually.

Authorities issued 31 planting area codes covering 23 growing zones totaling more than 470 hectares. Of these, 16 growing zones with 22 codes, covering nearly 250 hectares, have already met export standards for markets such as the United States and South Korea.

One 13-hectare growing area meets requirements for export to Australia.

Nguyen Quang Hieu, deputy head of the Plant Production and Protection Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said Australia’s acceptance is a significant step that could help Vietnam expand into other high-standard markets.

On the same day, Vinh Long, another Mekong Delta province, also celebrated its first export of green-skinned pomelos to Australia.

The event came shortly after Australia officially updated import conditions for Vietnamese pomelos just two days earlier.

Officials from Vietnam’s agriculture ministry said that Australia maintains some of the world’s strictest biosecurity and quarantine requirements.

To gain Australian approval, Vietnamese pomelos underwent nearly two years of pest risk analysis and had to demonstrate freedom from 19 harmful organisms.

Exported fruit must come from registered growing areas, be processed at approved packing facilities, and undergo irradiation treatment.

Chau Van Hoa, vice-chairman of the Vinh Long administration, said the province has 13,800 hectares of pomelos and will continue training farmers to meet international standards.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of fruit exporter Vina T&T Group, said Australian authorities only finalized technical approvals last Friday, but immediate orders from partners allowed the company to ship dozens of metric tons in the first batch.

Tung added the company plans to expand GlobalGAP-certified production and raise purchase prices for farmers.

Vietnam currently has about 100,000 hectares of pomelos nationwide, producing nearly one million metric tons annually.

The country’s pomelo exports reach approximately US$70 million annually, with shipments to 14 countries including the U.S., South Korea, and New Zealand.

In the first two months of 2026, exports totaled $13.8 million, up 30 percent year on year.

Pomelo is now the sixth Vietnamese fruit permitted in Australia, after dragon fruit, lychee, longan, mango, and passion fruit.