Unlocking the Potential: Australia – The Next Frontier for Vietnam’s Fresh Dragon Fruit Exports

Australia has officially announced the approval of importing fresh passion fruit from Vietnam. With this decision, passion fruit becomes the fifth type of fresh fruit that Australia allows to be imported from Vietnam, following mangoes, dragon fruits, lychees, and longans. In Australia, the demand for passion fruit is on the rise, while domestic supply is limited, making Australia a market with great potential for Vietnam’s fresh passion fruit exports.

According to the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Australia has officially permitted the import of fresh passion fruit from Vietnam. Passion fruit harvested from approved growing regions in Vietnam can now be exported to the Australian market but must comply with biosecurity requirements. To minimize the risk of pests such as fruit flies, mites, and mealybugs, Australia also requests that growing areas, production regions, and facilities implement risk management measures, including irradiation for effective pest control.

This decision to open up to Vietnam’s fresh passion fruit comes after a two-year study by Australia on importing passion fruit from Vietnam. The study thoroughly assessed the growing regions, soil, climate, cultivation processes, pesticide control, harvesting, and packaging practices.

Passion fruit is not unfamiliar to Australian consumers, as it is grown in some of the country’s warmer regions. However, Australia currently has only about 130 commercial growers, producing around 5,000 tons per year, valued at nearly AUD 30 million. Due to its high nutritional value, ease of storage, and long shelf life, passion fruit is gaining popularity among Australian consumers, leading the country to import approximately 2.5 tons from New Zealand. Notably, imports of passion fruit from New Zealand have been increasing, doubling in 2021 compared to 2017. In contrast, Vietnam’s fresh passion fruit output in 2019 was over 44 times higher than Australia’s, indicating its potential to meet the Australian market’s demands.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Hoa, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, stated that recognizing the potential of Vietnamese passion fruit, the Trade Office has been actively promoting, building its brand, and offering frozen passion fruit samples since 2021 at various events and exhibitions to introduce the product to Australian importers. As a result, the delicious taste of Vietnamese passion fruit is now better known in the Australian market, facilitating the entry of fresh passion fruit from Vietnam.

“I believe that Vietnamese fresh passion fruit exported to Australia will be competitive in terms of price. Moreover, I see an advantage for passion fruit compared to other fresh fruits that we have already accessed in the Australian market, which is that passion fruit can withstand long-distance sea transportation very well. As we know, fresh passion fruit naturally retains its flavor for an extended period, giving it a significant edge,” added Mr. Hoa.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, in the first seven months of 2024, the export turnover of Vietnamese goods to Australia reached USD 3.76 billion, a 32.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023, making Australia one of the fastest-growing export markets for Vietnam. Among the exported products, the vegetable and fruit category witnessed a 31.7% growth, reaching nearly USD 58 million. This achievement is partly attributed to the Trade Office’s continuous research, implementation, and promotion of potential products in recent years, as well as the active participation of domestic enterprises in international exhibitions in Australia to introduce their products.