Dragon fruits enter the US, UK, and Germany

Data from the General Department of Customs shows that in the first 4 months of the year, Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports reached USD 230 million, down 7.5% compared to the same period in 2023. This also increases the proportion of dragon fruit in the total export fruit. Exports decreased by 40% compared to the same period last year.

China, the main export market, continued to decline in the first 4 months of the year and only reached USD 162 million, down 19.3% over the same period last year. Along with China, dragon fruit exports to Hong Kong and Japan decreased by 0.6-7.5%.

Contrary to the downward trend, Vietnamese dragon fruit exports to the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia, and India suddenly soared. Of which, exports to Germany and the UK increased the most by 2.3-2.7 times over the same period last year, reaching USD 786,000 in Germany and more than USD 1 million in the UK market.

As for the US, dragon fruit exports increased by over 102% with USD 13 million, and India increased by 33% with USD 16.5 million.

The leader of a fruit export business based in Ho Chi Minh City said that the proportion of dragon fruits exported to the US, UK, Germany, and India markets is not large, but this is a bright spot when Consumers from other countries increasingly prefer Vietnamese products. When Vietnamese products become popular, export turnover will increase in the year’s second half.

Currently, this year’s dragon fruit crop on the market is more uniform in size than in previous years and moderate in weight, so it suits the needs of Western countries.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association, said that this year, the world is affected by El Nino, so the output of dragon fruit sold globally has plummeted. In countries in Europe and North America, supplies from Mexico and South American countries also suffered crop failures this year, creating an opportunity for Vietnamese goods to take over.

Thanks to increased purchasing by new markets, dragon fruit export turnover avoided a sharp decline. In addition, reduced supply due to the effects of climate change helped keep dragon fruit prices high in the first months of the year.

Currently, white-fleshed dragon fruit in many localities is increasing by VND 2,000-3,000 per kg compared to last month, at VND 14,000-16,000 per kg. Red intestine products range from VND 30,000 to VND 43,000 per kg (depending on type).

According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Thuan, the whole province has 26,500 hectares of dragon fruit, down nearly 1,150 hectares compared to the same period in 2023. This year, the weather is extremely hot, and the wind is strong, so the yield decreased sharply over the same period.