Vietnamese pomelo has officially entered South Korea’s Lotte Mart supermarket chain, marking a significant milestone for the country’s agricultural exports. This move reflects the superior quality of Vietnamese produce and highlights the growing economic cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea.

On April 10, 2024, the Vietnamese pomelo was launched in Lotte Mart, one of South Korea's largest retail chains. This marks the beginning of Vietnam's effort to expand its agricultural exports, with Vietnamese businesses and government agencies working together to strengthen bilateral economic ties between the two countries.

According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), South Korea's fresh fruit imports surged to a record $1.45 billion in 2024, a 20.1% increase from the previous year. This reflects the growing dependence of the South Korean market on imported fruits.

With domestic fruit production facing challenges due to unfavorable weather and climate change, South Korea’s fruit imports are expected to continue rising sharply.

KREI estimates that the total volume of imported fruits, including fresh, dried, and frozen, will rise by 6.8% to 817,000 tons in 2024, with projections reaching 865,000 tons by 2034.

In 2024, South Korea became Vietnam's fifth-largest fruit export market, with exports valued at $319 million, following China, the United States, the EU, and Japan.

Vietnam produces over 12 million tons of fruit annually, with pomelo production reaching approximately 1.2 million tons, indicating the significant potential for expanding exports to South Korea.

Meanwhile, South Korean consumers are increasingly favoring nutrient-rich tropical fruits, providing an opportunity for Vietnamese pomelo to compete with products from the U.S. (such as oranges and apples) and Thailand (such as durian and rambutan).

The average export price for Vietnamese pomelo to South Korea is $2.40 per kg, which is 30% higher than the price in China ($1.80 per kg), demonstrating the added value of the South Korean market.

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnam began negotiating market access for pomelo to South Korea in 2018. By August 2024, Vietnamese pomelo was officially allowed for export to South Korea, with each shipment subject to sample checks before customs clearance.

In September of the previous year, the first successful shipment of 5 tons of pomelo was exported. This year, businesses aim to export 500 tons of pomelo, valued at around 30 billion VND (approximately $1.2 million).

Lotte Mart representatives have praised the potential of Vietnamese pomelo, noting its sweet taste, high vitamin C content, and suitability for South Korean consumers’ preferences.

Following the initial shipment distributed at the Lotte Mart Jamsil branch, the retail giant plans to expand distribution to other branches if the market response is positive.

In 2024, South Korea became Vietnam’s third-largest trade partner, after China and the United States, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $82 billion, a 7.4% increase from 2023.

Among agricultural exports, Vietnam’s coffee reached $141 million, up 22%, seafood $810 million, up 2%, and fresh fruits reached $319 million, an impressive 40% increase compared to the previous year.

Tam An