HCMC – The first two shipments of Vietnamese pomelos, totaling nearly 17 tons, were exported to Australia on April 13, marking the fruit’s entry into this market after nearly two years of negotiations.
Blue Ocean Import Export Trade JSC shipped a roughly five-ton consignment by air at nearly US$7 per kilogram, while Vina T&T Group JSC exported a separate 11.9-ton shipment by sea from Vinh Long Province.
This marks the first time Vietnamese pomelos have entered the Australian market, following the completion of legal and technical procedures by both sides in early April 2026.
Previously, in October 2025, the two countries announced the market opening and agreed on import requirements for pomelos.
Le Viet Binh, deputy chief of the Southern Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said Australia is an important market for Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable sector. The official approval for pomelo exports not only opens up room for export growth but also creates momentum to access other high-end markets.
Nguyen Dinh Tung, chairman and CEO of Vina T&T Group, said that two more shipments will be dispatched in the several days, and Vietnamese pomelos are expected to arrive in Australia in about 20 days.
Meanwhile, according to Phan Quoc Nam, sales director of Blue Ocean Import Export Trade JSC, in addition to strict requirements on external appearance, the products must be free from regulated pests to qualify for export to Australia.
Under Australian regulations, Vietnamese pomelos must undergo a highly stringent control process. First, a pest risk assessment lasting nearly two years is conducted to ensure the fruit does not carry any of the 19 regulated pests.
Pomelos are only eligible for export if they are grown in coded planting areas, packed at approved facilities, and subjected to irradiation treatment at a minimum dose of 400 Gy before shipment. This is a mandatory requirement to meet the biosecurity standards of demanding markets like Australia and New Zealand.
Data from Vietnam Customs showed that in the first three months of 2026, fruit and vegetable exports to Australia exceeded US$36.4 million. The addition of pomelos is expected to help boost export turnover while expanding the range of fruits shipped to high-end markets.
Pomelos are currently the sixth Vietnamese fruit allowed into Australia, after dragon fruit, lychee, longan, mango, and passion fruit.
