Fresh Vietnamese lychees on sale at Costco Lidcombe in Sydney, Australia
Australia opened its market to fresh Vietnamese lychees in 2015. Since then, the volume of Vietnamese lychee imports has continued to grow, particularly this year, with supermarket chain Costco importing a large shipment for distribution across its nationwide network.
Costco is a major Australian retailer known for selling a wide range of products in bulk quantities. Products sold at Costco are subject to strict quality standards and high consumer expectations. Therefore, the appearance of fresh Vietnamese lychees on Costco shelves is seen as a positive signal for the market. Notably, the fruit is being sold at a favorable price, up to AUD18.49 per kilogram, equivalent to over VND 300,000.
This is the second year that Costco has sold fresh Vietnamese lychees in Australia. Unlike last year, when the fruit was only available in stores in Adelaide and Perth, this year it is being sold at Costco locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
In 2024, 4 Ways Fresh became the first company to introduce fresh Vietnamese lychees to Costco. Following the success of last year’s trial run, Costco decided to increase its imports and sell Vietnamese lychees throughout its entire network in Australia.
Ly Hoang Duy, General Director of 4 Ways Fresh, said: “In 2024, we supplied Vietnamese lychees to Costco as a trial. At the time, we tested sales at just a few stores to gauge the market response. The outcome was very positive as customers loved the product, and Costco found it very promising. This year, they asked us to improve the packaging, ensure even better quality, and increase the volume. In 2025, Costco agreed to sell lychees nationwide. That’s a major success. Last year, they ordered only about 10 to 15 tonnes; this year, they’ve taken over 200 tonnes. We're currently working on marketing strategies for next year, and we expect the volume to continue rising.”
4 Ways Fresh has been importing fresh lychees from Vietnam to Australia since 2019. Initially, the fruit was sold mainly through Asian supermarkets and grocery stores. Over time, the company expanded its distribution network to include major Australian supermarket chains such as IGA and Foodland.
“Vietnamese lychees are now reaching the Australian market through multiple channels. In addition to Asian supermarkets and Costco, they are available at fruit stores owned by Australians, as well as Indian and Middle Eastern retailers. Everyone is very supportive of Vietnamese lychees and willing to display them prominently in their stores. That’s very encouraging,” said Ly Hoang Duy.
Fresh lychees are not unfamiliar to Australian consumers, as the fruit is also grown domestically with very high quality. However, Vietnamese lychees are harvested during the opposite season, giving them a unique advantage in the market. Currently, Vietnamese lychees are being sold in Australia at prices ranging from AUD 9 to AUD 20 per kilogram.
This year has been a bumper season for lychees in Vietnam, with both abundant yields and high quality. As a result, 4 Ways Fresh has already imported 200 tonnes of lychees from Vietnam, with another 200 tonnes en route to Australia.
Ly Hoang Duy emphasized, “4 Ways Fresh has been importing lychees to the Australian market for six years now. This year’s crop is especially good, with great quality, reasonable prices, and strong volume. We want to congratulate the exporters and farmers who have grown such excellent fruit. We hope everyone keeps up the good work, and we will continue working alongside them to expand the market for Vietnamese lychees in Australia.”
