News & events
PRESS RELEASE: Cherries top sweet horticulture trade with Vietnam
- New conditions agreed for export of Australian cherries to Vietnam
- Australia agreed new conditions for export of Vietnamese dragon fruit to Australia
- Both nations continue to work effectively towards horticulture market access priorities
Australia and Vietnam have welcomed new conditions that will see the export of Aussie cherries to Vietnam in time for the 2017–18 season.
On announcing the agreed new conditions in Can Tho, Vietnam, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said the new trade reflected a bilateral partnership moving from strength to strength—hot on the heels of the agreed new conditions for the export of Vietnamese dragon fruit to Australia.
“Our trading relationship with Vietnam now spans four decades, with two-way trade topping $2.8 billion in agriculture alone,” Minister Ruston said.
“Both nations have established clear market access priorities for horticulture commodities and I am very pleased to see genuine progress being made towards the best possible outcomes for the horticulture industries in both countries.
“This outcome is great news for the Australian cherry industry—access for cherries was our top priority in Vietnam.”
Minister Ruston said that through the Vietnam Australia Agriculture Forum, both countries have been consistently working towards establishing the biosecurity conditions that would support safe, two-way trade in horticultural commodities.
“The processes we have in place with Vietnam are working very effectively,” she said.
“At the recent meeting of our technical experts in Hanoi, both countries had positive discussions about our next horticulture market access priorities and I look forward to continuing our strong two-way trade relationship with Vietnam.
“We are also working closely with Vietnam to improve the existing market access conditions for Australian oranges, mandarins and table grapes.”
Export conditions are now agreed for cherries and dragon fruit so that trade in both commodities can commence as soon as possible.
Minister Ruston is in Vietnam from 22–26 August, representing Australia at the APEC high-level ministerial dialogue on food security and sustainable agriculture.
Fast facts
- Exports of cherries have steadily increased each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16, rising from $16 million to $76 million.
- Australia exported over 5,600 tonnes of cherries in 2015-16.
Media contact
Tom Edwards 0438 791 913