Vietnam's Passion Fruit Aims for the US Market

Vietnam is hopeful that its fresh passion fruit will soon be exported to the United States, following Australia's approval of imports earlier this year. Tran Van Chien, deputy director of a plant quarantine center, shared this prospect at a recent forum.

If the US approves these exports, Vietnam could see an annual revenue of $50-100 million from this market, according to estimates by the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association.

Vietnam's Passion Fruit Industry

Vietnam currently cultivates nearly 9,500 hectares of passion fruit, primarily in the central highlands, producing around 190,000 tons annually. Approximately 80% of this output is exported.

Last year, Vietnam's passion fruit exports, including both fresh and frozen varieties, reached $222 million. Europe remains the largest market for Vietnam's frozen passion fruit.

Expanding Agricultural Exports

In addition to passion fruit, Vietnam is also seeking to export lychees to South Korea. The country already exports 19 types of fresh fruits and agricultural products to markets such as China, the US, South Korea, Japan, the EU, and Australia.

Vietnam's vegetable and fruit exports have surged by 28% to $6.6 billion in the first 11 months of this year, with expectations to hit a record $7.2 billion by year-end. China accounts for 66.5% of these exports.