Vietnamese pomelo can be exported to Australia and Australian blueberries can be shipped to Vietnam under newly agreed market access protocols

Australia and Vietnam have celebrated a new trade milestone with the two countries signing reciprocal market access protocols for Australian blueberries and Vietnamese pomelo.

The agreements were signed by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Vietnam’s Plant Production and Protection Department in Hanoi on 9 October 2025.

The event was attended by representatives from the Australian and Vietnamese governments who celebrated the new deals. According to a report from SGGP, Australia’s ambassador to Vietnam, Gillian Bird, said the agreements were a testament to the long-standing agricultural partnership between Vietnam and Australia.

“Today’s agreements reflect our shared commitment to advancing agricultural trade and ensuring consumers in both countries have access to fresh, high-quality produce,” said Bird.

The Australian blueberry industry welcomed the news, peak industry body Berries Australia said access would create new export opportunities for Australian blueberry growers. 

“Vietnam is a very exciting market for us with an estimated value of A$4mn in the first year, growing to approximately A$22mn within five years, which would effectively double the industry’s current export value,” Berries Australia said in a statement.

“Vietnam market access presents a fantastic opportunity for the blueberry industry, as it has a growing middle class who actively seek out high-quality imported fresh fruit. Vietnamese consumers have a well-established preference for branded, premium fruit with exceptional freshness and flavour aligning perfectly with Australia’s reputation for superior blueberry production.

“Australian blueberry production has seen significant growth over the last 25 years from A$24mn to A$505mn, however, most produce is consumed domestically, so this will be a game changer for the sector. Access to Vietnam offers Australian growers the opportunity to showcase their ultra-premium berries to an entirely new audience.”

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) also welcomed the breakthrough. CEO Claire McClelland added: “Vietnam represents an important and growing market for Australian fresh produce. Securing access for blueberries provides growers with an opportunity to supply high-quality fruit into a market where demand for premium produce is rising rapidly”.

Pomelo is the sixth Vietnamese fruit to gain access to Australia after dragon fruit, lychee, longan, mango and passionfruit

Vietnam’s deputy minister of agriculture and environment, Hoang Trung, said the opening of the Australian market for pomelo demonstrated Vietnam’s increasing reputation and phytosanitary capabilities.

Vietnam completed a stringent risk assessment process for its pomelo, which took nearly two years. Trung said the country’s agricultural industry not only strives to meet Australia’s export standards but also to upgrade its entire production chain from plant varieties and plantation management to post-harvest technology.

“This is an important milestone in the integration process, and at the same time opens up new opportunities for Vietnamese fruits to penetrate deeper into other high-end markets,” he said. 

“The Australian market is a measure of integration capacity and a launching pad for Vietnamese agricultural products to be directed to other fastidious markets.”

To ensure full compliance with Australia’s phytosanitary and food safety requirements for pomelo exports, Vietnam’s Plant Production and Protection Department stated that it will collaborate with local agencies to provide training and education, as well as assist with the certification of growing areas and packing facilities for export.

Source: Asia Fruit