Dragon fruit exports reached US$93.8mil, accounting for 14.3% of the total fruit and vegetable export value during the January to February period. — Vietnam News
HANOI: In a surprising shift in Vietnam’s fruit export market, dragon fruit has surged ahead to become the country’s leading fruit export, surpassing durian.
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, dragon fruit exports reached US$93.8mil, accounting for 14.3% of the total fruit and vegetable export value during the January to February period.
In February alone, exports of dragon fruit brought in US$35mil, representing 13.6% of the sector’s monthly export turnover.
The sharp rise in the volumes of dragon fruit comes amid a significant decline in durian exports, which have fallen to third place.
In February, durian export turnover was just US$21.4mil, with the two-month total also standing at US$21.4mil – a 69% drop year-on-year, accounting for only 7.6% of total fruit and vegetable exports.
The dramatic downturn is largely attributed to new import regulations from China, Vietnam’s top durian buyer, which consumes 95% of Vietnam’s durian exports.
Since early this year, China has required that all imported durian shipments be accompanied by cadmium residue and yellow O chemical test results, conducted at Chinese-recognised laboratories.
These stricter requirements have delayed customs clearance and made exports more complicated.
In addition, the European Union has increased border inspection frequency for Vietnamese durian from 10% to 20%, due to repeated violations of pesticide residue standards.
Bananas have also gained ground.
In February, banana exports reached US$40.8mil, up 32% from January.
Over the first two months of the year, banana exports totalled US$71.5mil, making up more than 10% of the fruit and vegetable sector’s overall export earnings.
Dragon fruit’s resurgence marks a comeback for a fruit that once topped Vietnam’s export charts.
According to the General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Dang Phuc Nguyen, dragon fruit had previously been Vietnam’s number one fruit export, earning nearly US$1.3bil in 2018.
However, its value declined in subsequent years, falling below the US$1bil mark by 2022 as durian exports took off.
Dragon fruit is popular in China, with Vietnamese varieties accounting for 90% of China’s imported dragon fruit, Nguyen said.
Current domestic dragon fruit prices are at high levels between 23,000 dong and 35,000 dong per kg, depending on the type.
Vietnam is also looking to expand dragon fruit exports to the United States, a market that already accounts for nearly 10% of Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports. — Viet Nam News/ANN
