Australia seeks to boost export of table grapes to Vietnam

HANOI - As the Australian table grape export season begins, Australian growers are heading to Vietnam to boost trade relations.

File photo of Australian table grapes – PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY

Three key growers from the Sunraysia region, which is responsible for some 99% of table grape exports in Australia; representatives from the Australian Table Grapes Association; and a delegation from Austrade will be in both Hanoi and HCMC from February 28 to March 1 to promote the premium product.

Hosted under the Hort Innovation Taste Australia banner, the upcoming trade marketing activity aims to cement existing trade relations and develop new and exciting partnerships. Hort Innovation acting trade lead Dianne Phan noted that Vietnam was currently the seventh largest importer of Australian table grapes.

“Vietnam is a key buyer of Australia's produce, and the Australian table grape industry has worked hard to educate Vietnamese consumers and promote Australian grapes,” she said. “Over the past four years, Australian table grape exports have grown 73%, demonstrating the increasing demand for our high quality and premium produce.

“Moving forward, we expect that we will be able to produce more of the grapes that Vietnamese consumers love,” the Hort Innovation acting trade lead remarked.

Australian Table Grapes Association CEO Jeff Scott stated that several new varieties were coming into production for export this year, such as Sweet Nectar, Sweet Sapphire, Pristine Seedless, Long Crimson, Cotton Candy and Melody Seedless.

“Many growers have planted new varieties in large numbers under commercial licences and have begun exporting them,” he noted. “If any variety proves successful or demand is high from importing countries, additional plantings will take place to satisfy demand.”

Scott explained that Thompson Seedless and Crimson Seedless were still expected to be Australia's main export varieties. “As an industry, we are seeing year-on-year growth in table grape exports, and this is a very pleasing outcome for growers.”

Scott will present an industry update during the trade activities in Vietnam, providing key partners with a seasonal overview of the 2019 crop forecast and the 5-to-10-year crop yield predictions.