Pomelo

Description

Vietnamese pomelo is not one product. Two varieties dominate the export trade and they behave differently on the shelf, so the first decision a buyer makes is which one the programme is for. Dragon Hub packs both.

What they share is the trait that makes pomelo unusually easy to trade: a thick, dense rind. It protects the segments through handling that would ruin a softer fruit, and it is the reason a pomelo programme can run on sea freight and hold in cold storage for months rather than days.

Da Xanh or Nam Roi — which one your programme needs

	Green skin (Da Xanh)	Nam Roi
Home province	Ben Tre	Vinh Long and Hau Giang
Flesh	Pink to light red	Opaque white to pale yellow
Seeds	Mostly seedless or very few	Usually seeded; seedless selections improving
Taste	Distinctly sweet, low acidity, little to no bitterness	Balanced sweet-acid, more citrus-forward and refreshing
Typical weight	1.2 – 2.5 kg	1.0 – 1.8 kg

In practice: Da Xanh sells on appearance and sweetness, which is why it dominates gift packs and premium retail, and the pink flesh photographs well in a supermarket display. Nam Roi is the cleaner, sharper fruit and holds up better where the pomelo is eaten as fruit rather than given as a gift. If you are buying for juice or processing, say so — the choice changes again.

Specification

Varieties	Green skin (Da Xanh), Nam Roi
Origin	Vietnam — Mekong Delta
Size grade 1	1.4 – 1.8 kg
Size grade 2	1.2 – 1.4 kg
Size grade 3	Under 1.2 kg
Storage temperature	2 – 8 °C
Shelf life	Up to 6 months in cold storage
Packing	To buyer specification
Minimum order	One reefer container

The three grades exist because pomelo is sold by piece far more often than by weight. Retail programmes usually take a single grade so that shelf price stays consistent; wholesale buyers frequently take a mix. Tell us which, and whether you want the grades separated in the carton or packed together.

Why pomelo travels well

Six months of storage life is the number that changes how a pomelo programme is planned. It means you are not buying against a vessel schedule the way you would with mango or banana. You can hold stock, build a promotion around it, and cover a gap in the calendar without air freight.

Two conditions sit behind that figure and neither is optional. The fruit has to go into store sound, with no rind punctures from harvest or packing, because a damaged rind is where storage rot starts. And the cold chain has to hold from the packing house to your warehouse — every break shortens the window, and the loss does not become visible until weeks later. Ask what temperature the fruit was actually held at, not what the specification says.

Market access and documents

Vietnam has around 105,400 hectares under pomelo producing close to 905,000 tonnes a year, of which the Mekong Delta accounts for roughly 32,000 hectares and 369,000 tonnes. It is a large, established crop rather than an emerging one.

The United States opened to Vietnamese fresh pomelo on 4 October 2022, after more than five years of negotiation, making it the seventh Vietnamese fresh fruit to clear that market. Shipments to the US must be irradiated at a US-recognised facility under the supervision of APHIS and Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department.

Other markets set their own conditions and they are not interchangeable. Before you contract, ask any Vietnamese supplier for:

• The growing area code and packing facility code registered for your destination
• The treatment your market requires, where it is carried out, and who supervises it
• The phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin your broker will need
• A residue test report, if your market or your own buyer requires one

What to send us for a quote

• Variety — Da Xanh, Nam Roi, or both
• Size grade, and whether grades may be mixed in one carton
• Destination market and port
• Carton weight, and whether the print is yours, neutral or ours
• Whether the fruit sells on arrival or goes into storage first
• Volume per shipment, frequency, and Incoterm

Dragon Hub processes, packs and exports Vietnamese fruit to supermarket and wholesale buyers across Asia and the Middle East. Pomelo sits alongside Cavendish bananas, mango, seedless limes, dragon fruit and coconuts in our product range. Send the list above and you will get an answer against a stated Incoterm, including where we would push back.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Da Xanh and Nam Roi pomelo?

Da Xanh comes from Ben Tre, has pink to light red flesh, is mostly seedless and tastes distinctly sweet with low acidity. Nam Roi comes from Vinh Long and Hau Giang, has pale flesh, usually carries seeds and tastes more balanced between sweet and acid. Da Xanh suits gift and premium retail; Nam Roi suits everyday eating.

How long does Vietnamese pomelo keep?

Up to six months in cold storage at 2 – 8 °C, provided the fruit goes in sound and the cold chain is unbroken. The thick rind is what makes that possible. A punctured or bruised rind cuts the window sharply, and the damage usually shows weeks after the fault occurred.

What sizes are available?

Three grades: 1.4 – 1.8 kg, 1.2 – 1.4 kg, and under 1.2 kg. Pomelo is usually sold by piece rather than by weight, so most retail programmes take a single grade for consistent shelf pricing while wholesale buyers take a mix.

Can Vietnamese pomelo be exported to the United States?

Yes, since 4 October 2022. Every shipment must be irradiated at a US-recognised establishment under APHIS supervision, and must come from a registered growing area and packing facility. Confirm your supplier holds the codes for that market before contracting.

What is the minimum order for pomelo?

One reefer container is the normal minimum. Because pomelo stores for months rather than days, buyers often start with a single container and hold part of it, which is harder to do with shorter-life fruit.