Dragon fruit maintains position as Vietnam’s top fruit export
Vietnamese durian sees continued decline
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, 2025 has marked a turning point for Vietnamese fruit exports. In the first two months of the year, dragon fruit exports totaled $93.8 million, accounting for 14.3% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable export value. February alone saw dragon fruit shipments valued at $35 million, representing 13.6% of the sector’s monthly total.
![]() |
After many years, dragon fruit has regained its leading position in exported fruits and vegetables. (Photo: moit.gov.vn) |
This marks the second consecutive month that dragon fruit has led Vietnam’s fruit export rankings. In January, dragon fruit generated $58 million in revenue—well ahead of durian, whose export earnings plunged by 73% to just $31 million.
Bananas also posted strong growth. February exports reached $40.8 million, a 32% increase from January. Total banana exports for the first two months of 2025 stood at $71.5 million, contributing more than 10% to overall fruit and vegetable export value.
In contrast, durian—once considered Vietnam’s “billion-dollar fruit”—has suffered a sharp downturn. February exports dropped to $21.4 million, and the cumulative figure for January and February remained the same. That’s a 69% decline year-over-year, reducing durian’s share to just 7.6% of Vietnam’s total fruit exports.
Exports to China, which traditionally consumes 95% of Vietnam’s durian shipments, plummeted by 83%, falling to $27 million.
Industry experts attribute the dramatic decline to new regulations imposed by China at the beginning of the year. Under these rules, all imported durian must undergo laboratory testing for cadmium and Auramine O—requirements that apply to all exporting countries but have particularly impacted Vietnamese producers. The regulations have complicated customs clearance procedures and slowed shipments.
Adding to the challenges, the European Union has increased border inspection rates for Vietnamese durian from 10% to 20% due to repeated violations of pesticide residue limits.
This downturn comes after a record year in 2024, when durian generated $3.21 billion in export revenue, accounting for nearly 45% of Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export sector.
Dragon fruit eyes U.S expansion
The outlook for dragon fruit, however, appears far more promising.
According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the fruit is undergoing a strong rise, driven by solid international demand and rising prices at home.
Currently, white-fleshed dragon fruit is fetching high farmgate prices, with Grade 1 fruit being purchased at VND 30,000–35,000 per kilogram, Grade 2 at around VND 28,000, and Grade 3 ranging between VND 23,000–24,000 per kilogram.
Nguyên noted that in previous years, dragon fruit used to be Vietnam’s top fruit export by value.
“In 2018, dragon fruit reached a record high of nearly USD 1.3 billion in exports,” he said. “However, that figure gradually declined, and by 2022, we had dropped below the 1 billion threshold. When Japan signed a protocol for formal imports of Vietnamese dragon fruit, the market picked up again. But with durian’s explosive growth, dragon fruit was pushed down the ranks.”
Nguyên emphasized that globally, dragon fruit is considered a “super fruit” due to its health benefits. The fruit remains highly popular in China, which imports 90% of its dragon fruit from Vietnam.
On April 11, a Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoàng Trung held talks with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), seeking to expand market access for Vietnamese fresh fruits, especially dragon fruit.
Vietnam has proposed that the U.S. allow vapor heat treatment as a phytosanitary method for dragon fruit, which would help reduce export costs for Vietnamese producers.
Currently, the U.S. accounts for nearly 10% of Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports. If the new treatment method is approved, shipments to the American market could rise significantly.
See also

Breakthrough measures needed for 18 billion USD wood export goal
16:25 | 16/04/2025 Trade
See more news

Vietnam's largest rice export market sees policy shake-up
16:57 | 14/04/2025 Trade

Vietnamese businesses make efforts to expand market for finished coffee
17:18 | 13/04/2025 Trade

Ministry calls for stricter control over imported materials amid tighter origin rules
16:36 | 12/04/2025 Trade

Export strategies aim to overcome global economic headwinds
15:01 | 11/04/2025 Trade

Measures sought to reach 65 bln USD in agro-forestry-fishery export
17:03 | 09/04/2025 Trade

Smoked buffalo meat: Highland flavors, lasting traditions
15:30 | 09/04/2025 Trade

Vietnam’s wood exports surge in early 2025, but face mounting headwinds
11:29 | 08/04/2025 Trade

Vietnam focuses on exporting high-value agricultural products to Northern European market
19:14 | 07/04/2025 Trade

Urgent solutions for Vietnam’s durian export problem
18:09 | 07/04/2025 Trade

VASEP proposes negotiation plan with the US on reducing tariffs on seafood products
22:08 | 05/04/2025 Trade

Historical significance of International Workers’ Day
09:22 | 28/04/2025 Society

Imexpharm sets breakthrough growth goals at 2025 shareholders meeting
10:00 | 27/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Streamlining State apparatus to expand development space
13:31 | 26/04/2025 Society

Vietnam-Laos relations vital to revolutionary cause in each country: State leader
10:05 | 26/04/2025 Cooperation

US calls tariff talks with Vietnam productive
09:02 | 26/04/2025 News and Events
Multimedia

Proposed names for 34 provincial-level administrative units after mergers
16:42 | 16/04/2025 Infographic

Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership
15:55 | 14/04/2025 Infographic

Vietnam's economy thrives in Q1 2025
16:45 | 12/04/2025 Infographic

Infographic: Gold prices fluctuate following US retaliatory tariff announcement
21:45 | 04/04/2025 Infographic

Seven key missions of the National Data Association
20:07 | 30/03/2025 Infographic

14th National Party Congress’s draft documents more revolutionary, action-oriented, highly feasible: PM
16:31 | 16/04/2025 Policy

Party chief requires no disruptions to operations throughout restructuring process
16:12 | 14/04/2025 Policy

District-level local governments to cease operations from July 1: draft law
16:53 | 13/04/2025 Policy

Australian scholar praises Vietnam’s remarkable 50-year transformation
16:28 | 12/04/2025 Policy

Hanoi to develop 254-million-USD industrial cluster
21:13 | 19/04/2025 Industry

Vietnam sets ambitious targets in revised national power development plan
18:56 | 17/04/2025 Industry

Prime Minister urges COMAC to support Vietnam in developing aviation industry
17:12 | 14/04/2025 Industry

Steel industry seeks solutions amid tariff "shock"
17:12 | 13/04/2025 Industry

Ho Chi Minh City’s FDI rebound attracts high-tech giants
21:23 | 19/04/2025 Investment

Korean firms encouraged to invest more in Vietnam’s energy sector
16:31 | 15/04/2025 Investment

Public investment aimed to drive Vietnam’s economic growth
10:48 | 15/04/2025 Investment

Hue calls for investment in the Chan May – Lang Co Economic Zone
23:36 | 11/04/2025 Investment

Remittances to HCM City reach over 2.41 billion USD in first quarter
08:21 | 20/04/2025 Finance-Banking

National committee meets to accelerate ODA, concessional loan disbursement
14:43 | 15/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Vietnam accelerates rollout of 500 trillion VND credit package for infrastructure and technology firms
15:36 | 12/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Hong Kong paves way for Vietnam–China finance link
19:25 | 10/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Vietnam's carbon market: Prudent approach to avoid costly outcomes
08:53 | 18/04/2025 Environment

Moc Chau Milk centers on green development and growth
16:06 | 17/04/2025 Environment

Extra efforts requested to address forest fire consequences in Quang Ninh
16:56 | 16/04/2025 Environment

Hanoi to host major green growth summit this month
16:44 | 11/04/2025 Environment

PM applauds youth entrepreneurship at National Startup Day for Students
21:40 | 20/04/2025 Science - Technology

Nuclear energy development to facilitate green transition: Conference
22:10 | 18/04/2025 Science - Technology

HCM City seeks stronger hi-tech cooperation with US, Japan, RoK
16:47 | 15/04/2025 Science - Technology

Da Nang, RoK to train next generation of Vietnamese software experts
13:24 | 11/04/2025 Science - Technology

Historical significance of International Workers’ Day
09:22 | 28/04/2025 Society

Streamlining State apparatus to expand development space
13:31 | 26/04/2025 Society

Vietnam steadily marches into new era of growth
16:35 | 21/04/2025 Society

Workers proactively enhance productivity in new era
15:32 | 21/04/2025 Society

Imexpharm sets breakthrough growth goals at 2025 shareholders meeting
10:00 | 27/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Petrovietnam: New milestone - New vision for sustainable development
16:21 | 21/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnam Oil and Gas Group renamed Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group
22:18 | 10/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnamese enterprises float products at world's largest startup fair in India
21:59 | 05/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnamese cultural values introduced to international friends in Mexico
20:55 | 30/03/2025 Culture

Hung Kings’ Festival 2025: a grand celebration of culture and heritage
15:21 | 30/03/2025 Culture

Vietnam works to seek UNESCO status for Binh Dinh martial arts
18:00 | 29/03/2025 Culture

Nghe An to host ASEAN exhibition this May
16:47 | 24/03/2025 Culture

Digitization key to tourism breakthroughs
09:15 | 24/04/2025 Tourism

Highland products, soul of Son La’s community-based tourism
09:34 | 17/04/2025 Tourism

Vietnam’s scenic landscapes attract Hollywood filmmakers
15:15 | 30/03/2025 Tourism

Positioning unique tourism products to enhance attractiveness of Vietnamese cities
17:56 | 29/03/2025 Tourism