Vietnamese dragon fruit has regained its ranking, just behind durian.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in the first 6 months of 2024, dragon fruit exports ranked second with 292 million USD, just behind the king of fruits - durian.

Vietnam's dragon fruit exports have regained their ranking, second only to durian - Photo: THAO THUONG

July 29, exchange with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - said that in previous years, dragon fruit is the fruit that brings in the largest export value of the fruit and vegetable industry.

"In 2018, the highest record that the fruit dragon fruit brought Vietnam nearly 1.3 billion USD, but then gradually decreased and lost the 1 billion USD export mark in 2022. At the time Japan had a protocol for official import of Vietnamese dragon fruit, this fruit recovered. However, when durian exports broke through, dragon fruit was behind the king fruit ranking," Mr. Nguyen informed.

Mr. Nguyen said that in the world , dragon fruit is known as a "super fruit" because of the benefits it brings to human health. Dragon fruit is popular in the billion-people Chinese market, 90% of China's imported dragon fruit is Vietnamese dragon fruit.

In the first 6 months of 2024, Mr. Nguyen informed that in the context of general difficulties, Chinese market Import value decreased by 26% but is still the largest dragon fruit import market with a value of 203 million USD, accounting for 68% of market share.

"Vietnamese dragon fruit is grown in tropical regions with lots of sunshine and suitable soil, so it is very sweet and cool. Dragon fruit from other countries is not as good; especially red-fleshed dragon fruit. Therefore, the position of Vietnamese dragon fruit for export has many advantages in maintaining the second rank, just after durian," Mr. Nguyen further explained.

When dragon fruit lost its "throne", the export business There is a market shift to maintain market share and affirm the quality and value of exported Vietnamese dragon fruit.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (a business in Binh Thuan province) recounted the time when dragon fruit officially lost its "throne" of billion-dollar fruit in mid-July 2022, the time when durian was officially signed the protocol:

"I remember that in 2018, exports reached a billion dollars, but in the first half of 2023, it only reached nearly 350 million USD. We have shifted from focusing on the Chinese market to the Southeast Asian market and made Halah certifications (food standards for Muslims - PV) to enter supermarkets in Malaysia."

In addition, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, currently most dragon fruit import markets other than China have increased in value, such as: India 21 million USD, up 35%; USA 18 million USD, up 90%; Korea 10 million USD, up 36%; UAE 7.8 million USD, up 60%...

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