Greek kiwis are off to Vietnam

In a milestone development for the Greek kiwi - one of the most important exportable agri-food products - the Ministry of Rural Development and Food announced on Sunday, February 15, that the Vietnamese market has been opened for the Greek product and thus, from March 1, 2026, exports and the issuance of an official Phytosanitary Certificate will be allowed.

In November 2025, there was an on-site inspection by Vietnamese Phytosanitary Inspectors in our country, who had proposed a package of measures, which was accepted by the Greek side. The opening of the emerging Vietnamese market will cover all cultivated varieties of kiwi in Greece, green-fleshed and yellow-fleshed.n a statement to newmoney, the President of the National Interprofessional Kiwi Organization (EDOA), Christos Kolios, notes that “the signing of the phytosanitary protocol and the opening of the Vietnamese market for Greek kiwi, constitutes a particularly important development for the sector and the Greek agricultural economy as a whole. After many years of technical negotiations between the competent authorities of the two countries, a new, dynamic export outlet is now being created in a rapidly growing Southeast Asian market,” he explains.

A market with a rising middle class and demand for quality fruit

As he added, explaining what the new opportunities are that are opening up for Greek kiwi, “Vietnam is a country with a growing population, a strong rise in the middle class and high demand for quality imported fruit. Thus, the Greek kiwi, with its recognized quality, safety and nutritional value, has all the conditions to claim a significant share in this market.

This development is not only a commercial success, but also a strategic opportunity to diversify our export destinations and reduce dependence on traditional markets. At the same time, it is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of the product and give added value to Greek production.

New Zealanders, Chinese, French and Italians against Greek kiwi

Of course, in the emerging Vietnamese market, there are several important players, who occupy the lion's share of the market. New Zealand clearly dominates, since it is the No. 1 supplier by a large margin and a percentage of close to 80%. At number 2, we find China, which is rapidly rising and a main supplier with the low price of kiwis as a weapon. France and Italy follow, with a significant, but smaller presence.

Mr. Kolios hopes that “the opening of this new market will constitute a dynamic and steadily upward path for Greek kiwi, with successful collaborations, increasing exports and even greater international recognition of the quality of our product.”