DFNet

April 15, 2025 | Viet Nam News |

Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports surged to US$93.8 million in January–February, surpassing durian as the country’s top fruit export. This shift is largely due to stricter import regulations from China—Vietnam’s main durian buyer—which now require chemical residue tests for each shipment, causing delays and a 69% drop in durian export turnover. The EU also raised inspection rates on Vietnamese durians due to pesticide violations.

In contrast, dragon fruit, long popular in China and previously Vietnam’s leading fruit export, has rebounded. Vietnamese dragon fruit accounts for 90% of China’s imports and nearly 10% of the U.S. market. With domestic prices rising (VNĐ23,000–35,000/kg), dragon fruit’s renewed demand is driving growth. Vietnam is also seeking U.S. approval for a cost-saving hot steam treatment method to further expand exports.

Bananas also saw strong gains, reaching $71.5 million in exports during the same period. Overall, dragon fruit now makes up 14.3% of Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports, while durian’s share has dropped to 7.6%. This marks a significant turnaround for dragon fruit, which once earned $1.3 billion in 2018 but declined below $1 billion by 2022 amid durian’s rise.

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