Twenty-two tones of Vietnamese dracontomelon, locally known as "sau" fruit, have arrived in Australia, said the Vietnamese Embassy's trade representative office in the country. This is the first time Vietnamese "sau" fruit was imported, marketed and distributed in Australia.
The souring agent, hugely popular and widely used in Vietnamese cuisine, fetches around AUD$18 per kilo or AUD$390,000 (VND6.5 billion) for the whole shipment.
The trade office has printed brochures to introduce the fruit's numerous uses and benefits to local merchants and consumers. With its main harvest season extending from June to September, the dracontomelon has the potential to do well in the Australian market.
Despite the pandemic, Vietnam's agriculture exports to Australia during the first half of the year recorded a 52 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019, reaching US$40 million. The trade office said it has plans to promote the dracontomelon during the ongoing Vietnam Dragon Fruit Week in Australia.