What preparations are needed to export pomelos to South Korea?

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper after the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) officially announced that Vietnamese pomelos are allowed to be exported to the country through official channels, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department, said that this is the third fresh fruit from Vietnam to be imported into South Korea, after dragon fruit and mangoes.

According to Mr. Hieu, with a population of 50 million, South Korea is a very promising market for Vietnamese pomelos because in recent years the country has been increasing its imports of fresh fruit. Furthermore, Vietnam has the advantage of having pomelos available year-round in large quantities, while other countries have limited production and therefore lack exportable resources. South Korea's opening of its market presents an opportunity for us to boost Vietnamese pomelo exports.

"Businesses wishing to export pomelos to the South Korean market should register with the Plant Protection Department. The Plant Protection Department will soon invite the South Korean side to inspect the growing areas and packaging facilities before export," Mr. Hieu said.

According to Mr. Hieu, the South Korean side requires that Vietnamese pomelo growing areas, packaging facilities, and steam treatment facilities register with the Plant Protection Department for management and supervision.

"In the phytosanitary requirements for grapefruit before export, the South Korean side requires treatment with hot steam."

Your side requires that the steam heat treatment be carried out by raising the core temperature of the fruit to 47°C or higher and for 20 minutes, or by raising the core temperature of the fruit to 46.5°C or higher and for 40 minutes (relative humidity above 90%).

"This process will be supervised by plant quarantine officials from both South Korea and Vietnam," Mr. Hieu said.

In addition, your side also requested that the pomelos be free from 20 species of pests, especially 6 species (Bactrocera carambolae, Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera dorsalis, Prays endocarpa, Citripestis sagittiferella).

In the first half of this year, fruit and vegetable exports to the South Korean market reached $164 million, a 55% increase compared to the same period last year.

The whole country has approximately 105,400 hectares of pomelo orchards, with a production of nearly 905,000 tons. The largest area is in the Mekong Delta with 32,000 hectares, followed by the northern midland and mountainous region (30,000 hectares) and the North Central region (13,000 hectares).

Prior to South Korea, several major markets such as the United States and New Zealand had also granted permission for fresh Vietnamese pomelos. Currently, Vietnamese pomelos are officially exported to 13 countries and territories. It is expected that Australia will also open its market to Vietnamese pomelos in 2025.