White Dragon Fruit Prices Soar: Farmers Reap Profits, Market Bustles

White dragon fruit prices surge in growing regions

Prices of white dragon fruit in Tiền Giang, Long An, and Bình Thuận provinces are rising sharply, reaching 20,000-25,000 VND per kg for bulk purchases, an increase of 40-50% compared to the same period last year.

Farmers rejoice:

Mr. Hồ Nhân, a dragon fruit farmer in Bình Thuận, said that his 3 sao of red dragon fruit are currently being harvested and are being priced by traders at 35,000 VND per kg for bulk purchases. At this price, he earns a profit of nearly 15,000 VND per kg. Similarly, Mr. Luận in Hàm Thuận Bắc district also said that for over a month, he has been able to sell dragon fruit at good prices, earning 50 million VND in profit after deducting costs for 2.5 tons of dragon fruit.

High profits for growers:

Thanks to the high price of dragon fruit, many dragon fruit growers in Bình Thuận and Tiền Giang are earning profits of 250-400 million VND per hectare (depending on yield). For small-scale farmers, each sao (1,000 m2) yields a profit of 15-30 million VND.

Reasons for the price increase:

According to Mr. Hồ Nam, a dragon fruit trader in Bình Thuận, the price increase is due to high demand exceeding supply. Currently, he can only buy 1-2 tons per day, compared to 3-4 tons during the same period last year. In addition, the area under dragon fruit cultivation nationwide is also showing a downward trend due to low prices in 2023, causing many farmers to switch to other crops.

Export market:

Currently, in addition to the Chinese market, Vietnamese dragon fruit is also exported to many other markets such as Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. However, from June to November, China will enter its harvest season, so dragon fruit prices may decrease again.

The future of Vietnamese dragon fruit:

Dragon fruit is one of the fruits that contributes a large market share to Vietnamese vegetables and fruits. However, the export value of dragon fruit is declining as China is able to grow its own. To maintain its position in the international market, the Vietnamese dragon fruit industry needs to focus on improving quality, diversifying export markets, and applying science and technology to production.