Vietnamese pomelos have officially been granted entry into the South Korean market.

Since 2018, the Plant Protection Department (PPD) ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) has launched a program to open the market for Vietnamese pomelos exported to South Korea. However, the negotiation process only really accelerated after the Covid-19 pandemic.

After two years of diligent effort, active coordination, and information exchange to promote the pest risk analysis process, and following numerous rounds of negotiations, the Plant Protection Department and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Service of Korea reached a technical agreement at a bilateral meeting in April 2024.

At the same time, on July 18, 2024, the Plant Protection Department also posted on its website the draft requirements for plant quarantine and food safety for fresh pomelos from Vietnam imported into South Korea, so that interested organizations and individuals can learn about and understand these regulations in advance.

Thus, pomelo is the third fresh fruit from Vietnam allowed to be imported into South Korea, along with dragon fruit and mango. The import of Vietnamese pomelo into South Korea is a significant step forward, opening up great opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products to access international markets, while affirming the quality and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market.

Pomelo is one of the 14 key fruit groups according to the Fruit Tree Development Project directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

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.

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.

Prior to South Korea, several major markets such as the United States and New Zealand also granted permission for fresh Vietnamese pomelos. Currently, Vietnamese pomelos are officially exported to 13 countries and territories. It is projected that this number will increase to 14 by 2025, with the addition of Australia.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, along with durian, pomelo is a fruit item whose value has increased significantly since the beginning of 2023.

With a market of 50 million people, South Korea is a very promising market for Vietnamese pomelos. The Plant Protection Department recommends that relevant parties carefully study the phytosanitary requirements for fresh pomelos imported into South Korea and quickly implement trade promotion activities to export pomelos to this Northeast Asian country.