In April 2026, Vietnam officially began exports of green-skin pomelo to Australia. Following dragon fruit, mango, lychee, longan, and passion fruit, the sixth fruit approved for Australia. At the same time, a quarantine protocol for pomelo and lemon to China was also signed, expanding the framework for formal exports to the China market. The Australian market, a demanding one opened after two years of negotiations, saw its first shipment as a pilot transport by air.
The sixth fruit approved for Australia
Green-skin pomelo became the sixth Vietnamese fresh fruit approved for the Australian market, following dragon fruit, mango, lychee, longan, and passion fruit. A market opened after two years of negotiations, it is an achievement that symbolizes the expansion of items exported to Australia.
The first shipment is a 940-kg air-freight pilot
The first pomelo arrived in Australia by air and, after plant quarantine and biosecurity inspection, was distributed at the Sydney Markets and retail supermarkets. The first shipment was 940 kg of green-skin pomelo, air-transported as a pilot lot. According to Tran Thi Thanh My, Australia's domestic production can meet only about 20% of demand, and the market relies on imports.
Export overview — data table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Start of exports to Australia | April 2026 |
| Rank in approvals for Australia | Sixth (following dragon fruit, mango, lychee, longan, and passion fruit) |
| First shipment volume | 940 kg of green-skin pomelo (air freight, pilot) |
| Australia's domestic self-sufficiency | About 20% of demand (the rest relies on imports) |
| Vietnam's cultivation area | About 106,000 ha |
| To China | Quarantine protocol for pomelo and lemon signed, formal export scope expanded |
The China market opened at the same time
With the signing of the quarantine protocol for pomelo and lemon to China, the legal framework for formal exports to the China market also expanded. Roads opened simultaneously in both the demanding market of Australia and the largest neighboring market, China. For Vietnam, which has a cultivation area of about 106,000 ha, the diversification of export destinations advances a notch further.
Implications for Japanese buyers and distributors
Green-skin pomelo that cleared Australia's biosecurity inspection shows the existence of growing regions able to meet markets with strict quarantine levels. A region that can ship to both Australia and China will hold a track record on both quality and quarantine compliance, making it easy to rate as a candidate for imports to Japan as well. For buyers considering citrus imports, the Australia opening becomes reference material for selecting a growing region.
Summary
The simultaneous opening of green-skin pomelo to Australia and China accelerates the diversification of Vietnamese fruit's export destinations. The Australian market was a narrow gate requiring two years of negotiations, and regions that passed through it have high quarantine-compliance capacity. How it expands from an air-freight pilot to regular transport becomes the next focus.
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