Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports rose 14% year-on-year to US$108.5 million in the first two months of 2026, driven by a big jump in shipments to Thailand and the Middle East.
Exports to Thailand rose by more than 2.7-fold to $9.2 million, according to customs data. Shipments to the United Arab Emirates were up 57% to $3.3 million.
China remained the largest market, accounting for $66.5 million of all exports, a 5% increase. But demand from the U.S. fell 39% to $4 million.
The overall pickup in the first two months may signal a recovery in shipments after years of decline.
Annual dragon fruit exports used to be worth more than $1 billion a year between 2014 and 2018, but have fallen every year since due to changes in consumption patterns and competition.
Exports in the first 11 months of last year were worth $485.2 million, the lowest since 2014.
The fruit is mainly harvested from May to September in Vietnam, but is also grown off-season in January and February.
Farmers harvest dragon fruits in the central province of Binh Thuan in February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc |
Growers said supply has been declining in recent years as many farmers shifted to higher-value crops.
Yields were also hit as widespread flooding late last year caused fungal diseases in plants, according to an association of dragon fruit orchards and businesses in Binh Thuan Province, a major growing region.
As supply tightened, farm-gate prices rose. In the first two months of this year, white-fleshed dragon fruit sold for VND10,000-15,000 (US$0.38-0.57) per kilogram, while red-fleshed fruit was priced at VND15,000-25,000.
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