Hoang Phat Fruit Company has exported Vietnam's first ever dragon fruit shipment to the Australian market this week, website Customsnews.vn reported. 

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reportedly announced the Long An-based company sent three metric tons (MT) of white-fleshed dragon fruit by air on Wednesday.

The relatively new market access arrangement allows Vietnamese dragon fruit into Australia under strict conditions including vapor heat treatment. 

Long An People’s Committee Vice Chairman Pham Van Canh said the milestone allowed the province's fruit to enter new regions, building on an existing export deal that tends to send around 80% of its fruit to China, 15% to local markets, and the remainder to other markets including Japan, Thailand, the U.S. and Europe, the story reported. 

The province reportedly earns US$40 million annually from dragon fruit exports, out of the nation's total of US$895.7 million recorded last year. 

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