The first batch of Vietnamese frozen dracontomelon fruit is expected to arrive in Australia on August 3.

Vietnamese frozen dracontomelon fruit exported to Australia. Photos: Hoa Uu Dam Trading and Service Co., Ltd

The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia said that the shipment of 22 tons of frozen Vietnamese dracontomelon fruit by sea was conducted by Hoa Uu Dam Trading and Service Co., Ltd. In the context of many adverse impacts of Covid-19, the batch is also a result of trade promotion activities to diversify specialties for export. 

The export potential of dracontomelon is as high as that of some other fruits being exported to Australia, according to the assessment made by the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia based on turnover, markets, and production areas as well as the harvest season lasting between June and September.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai, Director of Hoa Uu Dam Trading and Service Co., Ltd said the company will continue to export the fruit to the market to meet the demand for the Australian and overseas Vietnamese consumers.

“Though Australia is a tough market, we see it is potential for exports and will continue to boost the sale to the market in the coming time,” she told The Hanoi Times.

Before the shipment, the company exported a number of other Vietnamese specialties such as durian from the southern provinces, dried lychee harvested from the northern province of Bac Giang and coconut wax from the Mekong delta province of Tra Vinh, Mai said. 

The package of Chu rice noodles is designed by Hoa Uu Dam

“Another shipment of Bac Giang Province’s Chu rice noodles by sea will arrive in Australia in the next 15 days. Then, longan, asparagus and Cha (pork ham) specialty of Uoc Le brand will be shipped by air to this market this month,” she added.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia is also preparing to release a culinary book of the dracontomelon fruit in English to the market, as well as coordinating with businesses to promote the gradual introduction of the fruit into large distribution systems.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, although many cities of this country are under social distancing measures and transportation is difficult, in the first six months of 2021, the export of fruit and vegetables to Australia recorded growth of more than 52% over the same period in 2019, reaching more than US$40 million.

Export of total agricultural products including cashew nuts, pepper, coffee and rice to Australia reached nearly $110 million.

In July, Vietnamese dragon fruit was exported to the Australian market through the ongoing Vietnamese Dragon Fruit Weeks which runs until August 10.