Vietnam's first official export of Ben Tre green grapefruit to Australia after two years of negotiations

Vietnam’s first batch of “Ben Tre green grapefruit” has been officially exported to Australia this morning, after nearly two years of negotiations. The shipment marks the fruit’s fourth export market and begins commercialization in a destination known for stringent quarantine requirements.

First shipments announced in Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp

On April 13, in Vĩnh Long (the former Bến Tre area) and Đồng Tháp, relevant parties announced export shipments of the first batches carrying the “Ben Tre green grapefruit” brand to Australia. The combined output of the two batches reached several dozen tons.

In October 2025, authorities from the two countries completed legal procedures and agreed on technical conditions for imported grapefruit. This enabled businesses to move toward actual exports, although additional preparation time was still required. The first shipment received import approval on April 10.

Company details: 18 tons shipped and plans to scale

As an early participant, Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T, said the company exported 18 tons of grapefruit, sourced from Ben Tre. The firm has experience exporting to the United States at around 50 tons per week and expects a similar scale in Australia, citing consumer behavior similarities.

According to Tung, negotiations between the two countries lasted nearly two years, focusing on technical requirements, quarantine, and irradiation procedures. After the first shipment, the company planned to continue sending goods to major consumer hubs including Melbourne and Sydney before expanding to other states through its distribution network.

The Australian partner has placed orders for nine containers, each carrying 14 to 18 tons, indicating positive market sentiment.

Branding and traceability requirements

Although the production area is in Giao Long commune (Vĩnh Long), the fruit will be packaged under the name “Ben Tre green grapefruit” to support international recognition. The company said it will add information about the growing area to improve traceability while leveraging the brand’s established reputation.

Governance and market context

Le Viet Binh, representative of the Southern Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said fruit exports in the first three months of the year rose sharply compared with the same period in 2025, with Australia emerging as a notable new market for grapefruit.

Binh said Vietnamese grapefruit has strong potential but remains underdeveloped in terms of reaching demanding markets. He noted that the United States has been open since late 2022, New Zealand afterward, and Korea since August 2024. “In the group of high-demand markets, Australia is the fourth destination—both promising and stringent,” he said.

Binh added that grapefruit export value reached about $60 million in 2024 and exceeded $70 million by year-end, supported by more than 100,000 hectares of cultivation. He said scale is large, but efficiency of exploitation has not yet matched. With Australia opening, the agriculture sector expects grapefruit exports this year to grow strongly and possibly exceed $100 million.

He also recalled that the former Ben Tre area (now part of Vĩnh Long) was the first locality to export grapefruit to the United States and remains a starting point for shipments to Australia, highlighting the region’s role in developing the sector.

Quarantine and irradiation standards for Australia

Exports to Australia are described as a milestone as Vietnam expands agricultural market access. Australia’s strict quarantine and biosafety requirements include pest risk assessments that can take nearly two years, ensuring products are free of 19 harmful pests.

Grapefruit exports must come from a registered growing area, be processed at an approved packing facility, and be irradiated at a minimum dose of 400 Gy before clearance.

Industry assessment and outlook

Nguyen Thanh Binh, president of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, said exporting the first batch not only opens another market but also demonstrates Vietnam’s ability to meet high standards for agricultural products. As more demanding markets accept Vietnamese grapefruit, he said the room to expand should increase, helping stabilize prices and reduce the risk of overproduction.

Vietnam currently has more than 100,000 hectares of grapefruit with annual output of nearly 1 million tons. In 2024, grapefruit exports reached about $60 million. With stable demand for tropical fruits in Australia and limited domestic supply, Vietnamese grapefruit is seen as having room to increase market share if quality and supply stability are maintained.