South Korea officially grants permission to import Vietnamese pomelos.

This is the third type of fresh fruit from Vietnam allowed to be imported into South Korea, after dragon fruit and mango, contributing to enhancing the brand and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products.

The whole country currently has over 100,000 hectares of pomelo orchards, with a production of over 900,000 tons. The Mekong Delta alone accounts for approximately 32,000 hectares, with a production of about 370,000 tons, and is considered a key production region.

Specifically, after three months of extensive consultation with stakeholders, the Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) has published on its website the import regulations for fresh pomelos from Vietnam to Korea.

According to the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), with a market of 50 million people, South Korea is a very promising market for Vietnamese pomelos. The Crop Production Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) also reported that, among the 14 key fruit groups in the fruit tree development plan approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2022, pomelo is one of the citrus fruit groups included in the plan until 2030.

Provinces with large grapefruit growing areas include Ben Tre (over 8,800 hectares), Vinh Long (over 8,600 hectares), and Dong Nai (over 5,400 hectares). Famous grapefruit varieties with great export potential include green-skinned grapefruit, Nam Roi grapefruit, and Tan Trieu grapefruit.

Before South Korea allowed imports, several major markets such as the United States and New Zealand had already licensed fresh pomelos from Vietnam. Currently, Vietnamese pomelos are officially exported to 13 countries and territories.

VAN PHUC