According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in 9 months of 2025, the export value of fruit and vegetables is expected to reach 6.11 billion USD. This is an increase of 8.3% compared to the same period in 2024. The trade surplus may exceed 4.2 billion USD.
This growth is due to fruit and vegetable exports to China recovering in August and September. Many items saw positive growth, including pomelo. Specifically, in August, Vietnam’s pomelo exports reached over 5 million USD, an increase of nearly 10% compared to the same period last year. In over 8 months, Vietnam earned over 52 million USD, an increase of 28% compared to the same period in 2024. This fruit is among the top 10 fruit and nut items with the highest export value in the country.
Fresh Vietnamese pomelos have been exported to 14 countries and territories.
In late 2022, fresh pomelos, Vietnam’s seventh fruit after mangoes, longans, lychees, dragon fruit, rambutan, and star apples, were allowed to be imported into the United States after 5 years of negotiation efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The grapefruit was also loved by two former U.S. Deputy Secretaries of Agriculture, Ms. Jennifer Moffitt and Ms. Alexis Taylor, during their visit to Vietnam in early 2023. Deputy Minister Taylor, the official in charge of agricultural trade issues, was full of praise after tasting the Diễn pomelo: “Wonderful. 10 out of 10. I look forward to seeing this type of grapefruit in stores in the US and buying it as a local consumer.
Similarly, this fruit has been officially exported to New Zealand since December 2022, resulting in a sudden surge in export value. In April 2024, pomelos continued to be “granted visas” to South Korea. Recently, on October 9th, pomelos were officially imported through official channels into Australia, marking the first time this fruit has conquered one of the world’s most strict markets.
The area of pomelo cultivation in Vietnam is expanding, from 50,000 hectares in 2015 to over 100,000 hectares by 2025, concentrated in the Mekong Delta, Red River Delta, and the Northern Midlands and Mountains region. The export value of fresh pomelos is estimated to reach about 60 million USD in 2024. The potential is large due to the year-round harvest advantage and competitive production costs.
According to the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the global processed fruit and vegetable market is on a steady growth due to increasing demand for convenient products.
The global processed fruits and vegetables market was valued at USD 77 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach 111.6 billion USD by 2035, with an average annual rate of 3.8%.
This is a great opportunity for all businesses to diversify their processed products instead of just focusing on fresh exports.