The federal government has signed a new agreement with Vietnam to secure market access for Australian blueberry producers, with trade expected to be worth approximately $22 million over the next five years.
Vietnam is an important market for Australian agriculture, with two-way agriculture, fisheries and forestry trade between the two countries valued at $4.4 billion in 2024. Top Australian exports to Vietnam last year included cotton ($921m), wheat ($491m), beef and veal ($210m), live cattle ($169m), and malt ($162m).
Senior representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry came together in Sydney in August for the fourth Vietnam-Australia Agriculture Forum, to discuss continued trade relations. The fifth forum is set to be hosted in Vietnam in 2027.
The federal government stated that accessing the Vietnamese market will significantly boost Australia’s $500 million blueberry industry. The agreement has been in the works since 2022 and goes two-ways, allowing Vietnamese producers to import pomelos into Australia.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, said the agreement was a result of the quality of Australian produce, and the strength of the country’s relationship with Vietnam.
“Australia’s hardworking, innovative blueberry producers should be proud of the fruit they grow, which is sought after all around the world,” said Collins.
“Since coming to government we have created a wave of new opportunities for our farmers and producers. We will keep working tirelessly to expand opportunities for our farmers and producers to export our world-class products on the international stage.”
The recent deal follows market access opening up for Australian plums to Vietnam in September 2024, supporting the summerfruit industry.
In 2024-25, the government stated it recorded 79 technical market access achievements across a variety of products, including 17 actions to maintain and 8 to restore existing markets, alongside opening 10 new markets and making 44 improvements to existing access.
