The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are finalizing the legal procedures to allow Vietnamese passion fruit to enter the U.S. market. This move is expected to generate export revenues of between 50-100 million USD.
Ho Bao, director of Van Xuan Agri JSc, highlighted that Vietnamese producers have been exporting passion fruit to Europe for over a decade, demonstrating their capability to meet international standards. However, the U.S. requirement for irradiation treatment could pose a challenge due to its high costs, potentially impacting competitiveness against South American producers.
A significant challenge is the fruit’s short shelf life, which necessitates air freight—costing around 3 USD per kilogram—making it a less competitive option. Bao remains hopeful that advancements in storage technology could enable sea transport, thereby boosting market potential and export revenue.
Dang Phuc Nguyen of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) noted that passion fruit is consistently among Vietnam’s top export fruits, with an export value exceeding 222 million USD in 2023. The U.S. market represents a promising opportunity for both fresh and processed passion fruit products.
Vietnam cultivates nearly 9,500 hectares of passion fruit, yielding approximately 190,000 tonnes annually, positioning it among the world’s top producers and exporters. The fruit is already exported to high-standard markets such as Australia, France, and China.
Nguyen Manh Hieu highlighted support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Swiss Government, which is helping Vietnam enhance its capacity to meet international standards and improve preservation technologies to extend the fruit’s shelf life.