Japanese authorities recently gave the go ahead for importing Vietnamese mangos cultivated in Xuan Loc district in the southern province of Dong Nai.

This is a great opportunity for Vietnamese mango growers to increase their consumer market, since previously only white flesh dragon fruit were approved for sale in Japan.

Japan is Vietnam’s second largest fruit importer, with a market share of 8 percent, after China. The red flesh dragon fruit is expected to be authorised for export to Japan next.

2015 is a good year for Vietnamese fruit exports so far, particularly lychees, which were licensed for export to the USA, Australia, Japan, France and the Republic of Korea.

Fruit export turnover is expected to reach 2 billion USD by the end of this year once businesses increase their shipments, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said.

Export markets with strict guidelines require Vietnamese producers to improve the quality of products, including the use of irradiation technology or sulphur dioxide fumigation. Furthermore, Vietnamese fruit growers are trying to overcome the various technical barriers that exist on the import markets.-VNA