Vietnamese longans may be exported to Australia in 2019, said a delegation of the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

According to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Australia, the delegation last month visited two longan farming, processing and packaging facilities in northern Hung Yen Province and southern Ben Tre Province. They are completing evaluation data and are likely to grant a licence to allow Vietnamese longan to be exported to Australia.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said this was good news for Viet Nam’s fruit sector as Australia is a potential market for fruit export. Vietnamese fruits can be sold at high price in the market. Earlier, Australia has permitted the import of fresh lychees, mangoes and dragon fruits from the Southeast Asian nation.

Last year, fruit and vegetable exports set a record of US$3.5 billion, rising by 40 per cent from the previous year. Vietnamese fruits and vegetables are sold in 40 countries and territories around the world. — VNS