Vietnam’s seedless lemon has become a common and indispensable fruit in the daily diet of Middle Eastern people. It is available in both supermarkets and traditional markets throughout the Gulf region.
In recent years, many Vietnamese agricultural products have established a foothold in Gulf markets. However, when it comes to reputation, none can surpass seedless lemons. Vietnam’s seedless lemon currently holds an overwhelming competitive advantage in several markets across the region.
Vietnam’s seedless lemon
It is now easy to find Vietnamese lemons in Dubai. At the Ras Al Khor wholesale market, local companies import Vietnam’s seedless lemon on a weekly basis. Due to the hot climate, the demand for fresh lemons is high. However, businesses in Dubai rarely import seedless lemons from anywhere other than Vietnam.
Mr. Venkat Addala is the Director from Fuchsiana General Trading Company in Dubai. He said, “Vietnamese fresh limes now face virtually no competition. In the past, there were Brazilian lemons, but today almost everyone sources lemons exclusively from Vietnam.”
“Seedless limes from Vietnam are famous for their distinctive flavor in comparison to those from other countries. We also import them for re-export to other Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar,” said Mr. Mohammed Naimath, Director of Zin Food Company in Dubai.
Vietnam’s seedless lemon boxes
Seedless lemons from Vietnam are green limes. Yellow lemons from countries such as India or South Africa are still available in the Gulf market. However, for Middle Eastern consumers, green limes and yellow lemons are two fruits that are not interchangeable.
Green limes are used for dishes that require a strong aroma and are especially popular for making beverages. Today, green seedless limes have become a clear hallmark of Vietnam on supermarket shelves across the Gulf region.
Mr. Nguyễn Đức Hoàng is the Director of Jamal Al Jasmin Company in Dubai. He said: “Vietnam’s seedless lemon is highly favored here because it is seedless fruit that has a very pure and distinctive aroma. Especially during the hot season, which is the peak season for limes, people in this hot climate often squeeze them for drinks. As a result, local consumption for Vietnamese seedless lime is very high.”
Vietnam’s seedless memon on Dubai supermarket
Al Maya is one of the leading retail groups in Dubai. Recently, the group has shown growing interest in Vietnam’s agricultural products. The company started importing rice and seedless lemons from Vietnam. Then, these successes have encouraged Al Maya to expand into importing other Vietnamese products such as coconuts, guava, and mangoes.
Mr. Kamal Vachani is the Director of the Al Maya Group. He said: “We have seen increasing demand from customers for Vietnamese agricultural commodities. This gives Al Maya the confidence to import a wider range of agricultural and food products. Among them, lemons are clearly a very important product from Vietnam.”
Vietnamese source: https://vtv.vn/kinh-te/chanh-khong-hat-viet-nam-chiem-linh-thi-truong-vung-vinh-20230618174650605.htm
