Vietnamese passion fruit exported to Australian market
On October 19, Blue Ocean Trading Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Blue Ocean JSC), located in Lam Ha district, Lam Dong province, officially exported a shipment of passion fruit to the Australian market. This is the first Vietnamese enterprise to export passion fruit to this market.
With more than 1.5 tons of passion fruit exported to Australia, Blue Ocean JSC marks the first Vietnamese company to export passion fruit to this market, after efforts to negotiate and open the market. Passion fruit becomes the 5th fruit to be officially exported to Australia, after mango, longan, lychee and dragon fruit.
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| Passion fruit is officially licensed to enter the Australian market (Photo: TL) |
In order for fresh passion fruit to be exported to Australia, it is necessary to establish a growing area, growing area code, and packaging facility code approved by the Plant Protection Department - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and have inspection and supervision from the partner. At the same time, the production stage must ensure the process, standards, and comply with biosecurity requirements.
In particular, to facilitate the journey of bringing dragon fruit to Australia and maximize profits, Ocean Group has inaugurated a frozen fruit processing factory in Lam Ha district.
With a total area of 10,000 m2 and an advanced technology system, the factory is capable of producing and supplying the market with over 5,000 tons of products per year. The products are processed from advantageous agricultural products of Lam Dong province, neighboring Central Highlands provinces and the Mekong Delta such as: durian, passion fruit, rambutan, mango, dragon fruit... All are processed through a quick freezing process and packaged immediately after harvest, helping to preserve the flavor, freshness and natural nutritional value.
Previously, on September 9, the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the Australian Embassy held a ceremony to announce the export of Vietnamese passion fruit to Australia and the export of plums from Australia to Vietnam. This is considered a new milestone in the cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of agriculture. After mango, longan, lychee and dragon fruit, passion fruit has become the fifth fresh fruit from Vietnam to be officially exported to Australia.
Open opportunities for Vietnamese fruits
Thus, after 7 years since dragon fruit was officially opened to Australia, another fresh fruit from Vietnam has now been officially licensed to enter this market.
Vietnam has potential and advantages in tropical fruits. Currently, Vietnamese fruits are exported to more than 60 countries and territories. Passion fruit alone is exported to 20 countries, in many forms such as fresh fruit, frozen fruit, and juice.
Passion fruit cultivation area is more than 12,000 hectares and is increasing, mainly concentrated in the Northern mountainous region. Currently, passion fruit is also being interested in and expanded in many provinces of the Central Highlands.
In recent years, Vietnam has focused on improving quality, chain production, and ensuring traceability of passion fruit; focusing on two varieties: yellow passion fruit and purple passion fruit.
Meanwhile, with the large Vietnamese community in Australia, the demand of Australians for Vietnamese products is also increasing (fruits, spices, etc.). At the same time, agricultural products between the two countries do not overlap in any type of agricultural products like neighboring countries (in terms of fruit, Vietnamese fruit is tropical fruit, Australian fruit is temperate fruit). In addition, Vietnam and Australia are both members of many bilateral and multilateral FTAs. These are favorable conditions for Vietnam to boost agricultural exports to Australia.
Australia is considered one of the most demanding markets in the world with many requirements for high product quality standards and strict import procedures. In this market, technical barriers, labeling requirements, and food hygiene and safety are very strict, some standards are even higher than those of the United States and the EU. Australia also requires many import regulations such as: Tax policies and tax rates; regulations on packaging and labeling; regulations on food hygiene and safety, quarantine; intellectual property rights; trademarks; business practices, etc. This is also a market with abundant and rich domestic agriculture. Therefore, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in the Australian market, if they want to penetrate the Australian market, Vietnamese export enterprises need to prioritize product quality, instead of price. In addition, Australian consumers also pay attention to packaging, design and brand.
The negotiation process to export a fruit to Australia is often difficult and takes 5-10 years. For example, lychee took 12 years, mango took more than 7 years. To date, Vietnam has been officially licensed to export 5 types of fresh fruit to Australia including mango, longan, lychee, and dragon fruit.
It is difficult for Vietnamese fruits to be present in the Australian market, but it is even more difficult to affirm and position the Vietnamese fruit brand in this largest market in Oceania.
The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia said that in recent times, the office has continuously implemented promotional activities, notably promotional programs targeting young people, trial activities as well as promotional activities on social networks.
The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia predicts that the number of Vietnamese fruits entering the “land of kangaroos” will grow strongly in the coming time. In fact, ensuring quality and improving packaging and design are ways to help Vietnamese fruits build a sustainable brand in an agricultural powerhouse like Australia.
Therefore, there needs to be a sustainable connection between farmers and businesses to create sustainable products, high food safety, meeting the technical barriers of the Australian market. Penetrating and establishing a foothold and reputation in Australia - one of the most demanding markets in the world - has demonstrated the quality of Vietnamese fruits. This is also considered a passport to help Vietnamese fruits easily enter other demanding markets and is a great opportunity to diversify the market and increase the value of Vietnamese fruits.
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