Vietnam's dragon-fruit exports have entered a phase of diversification from dependence on China alone toward the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Total exports for January–February 2026 were US$108.5 million (about 16.28 billion yen at US$1 = 150 yen), up 14% year on year. Among these, exports to Thailand surged to US$9.2 million (2.7 times the previous year) and to the UAE to US$3.3 million (up 57%), with declining dependence on China and the cultivation of emerging markets proceeding in parallel. The main regions are former Binh Thuan Province (merged into Lam Dong Province in the July 2025 administrative reorganization), Long An Province, and Tien Giang Province, drawing industry attention as data showing a reversal from recent years' export decline.
News details
According to data released on April 15, 2026 by the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Farm and Enterprise Association (formerly Hiep hoi Thanh long Binh Thuan), dragon-fruit exports for January–February were US$108.5 million, a 14% year-on-year increase. The breakdown by market is as follows.
- China: US$66.5 million (up 5% year on year, still the largest market)
- Thailand: US$9.2 million (over 2.7 times the previous year)
- US: US$4 million (down 39% year on year, slowing)
- UAE: US$3.3 million (up 57% year on year)
- Other EU and Southeast Asian countries: the remainder
Farm-gate prices held at VND 10,000–15,000 per kg for the white-flesh variety (about 59–88 yen, converted at 170 VND = 1 JPY) and VND 15,000–25,000 for the red-flesh variety (about 88–147 yen), a clear recovery from the low-price phase of 2024–2025 (white-flesh VND 3,800–5,000/kg).
Background: the fall from the "US$1 billion a year era" and the restart
Vietnamese dragon fruit maintained an annual export value of over US$1 billion in 2014–2018 and was synonymous with fruit-and-vegetable exports. But in 2019–2024, China's own production expansion, surging cultivation in Hainan and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, customs delays during the pandemic, and changes in consumption patterns overlapped, and the annual export value had shrunk to US$485 million as of January–November 2025. This is the lowest level since 2014.
This surge in exports to the Middle East and Thailand is "the diversification of China-only risk" an expression of a structural shift in the industry. For Thailand, the development of cold chains via cross-border land routes (through the Moc Bai and Lao Bao border gates) took effect, and for the UAE, expanded use of air freight (Ho Chi Minh–Dubai direct) and the increase in Halal-certified orchards gave a push. Meanwhile, exports to the US were slowed by the expansion of alternative fruits opened since 2024, such as green-skin pomelo, and by intensifying competition with product from other countries such as Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Dragon-fruit export trends by market (January–February 2026)
| Market | Export value (USD) | Yen conversion (US$1 = 150 yen) | Year on year |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 66.5 million | About 9.98 billion yen | +5% |
| Thailand | 9.2 million | About 1.38 billion yen | +170% (2.7 times) |
| US | 4 million | About 600 million yen | -39% |
| UAE | 3.3 million | About 500 million yen | +57% |
| Total | 108.5 million | About 16.28 billion yen | +14% |
* Yen conversions are unified at US$1 = 150 yen. The slight difference between the market-by-market total and the overall total is because it includes the export value of "the EU and other Southeast Asia" not listed in the table (equivalent to about US$25.5 million).
Industry and local reaction
The dragon-fruit association of former Binh Thuan Province (merged into Lam Dong Province in the July 2025 administrative reorganization) said, "Thailand and the Middle East are markets we have been developing as priorities since 2025, and the three points of direct fresh-fruit shipment, Halal certification, and strengthened cold chains have begun to show effect," and increased the number of weekly shipments to Thailand to more than double the 2025 level it has announced. The association expects a recovery to total exports of US$650–700 million for the full year 2026 (up about 30% year on year).
An executive at an export trading company (Hoang Phat Fruit) in Chau Thanh district, Long An Province, commented, "Offers from supermarkets in Thailand (Big C, Tops Market, Gourmet Market) are increasing, and the white-flesh variety is selling at local retail for 80–120 baht per kg (about 340–510 yen)." Meanwhile, an import buyer in Dubai, UAE, said, "Vietnamese dragon fruit has a shorter air-freight transit time than Ecuadorian product and is superior in fruit freshness and skin-color retention," and indicated an intent to double contract volumes within the year. As for the Chinese market, farmers in Ham Thuan Nam district of former Binh Thuan Province are heard to say, "There is still strong demand in the period when China's own production stops in winter (November–March)."
Practical information for Japanese agriculture stakeholders and importers
In the Japanese market too, Vietnamese dragon fruit currently circulates stably on the scale of 2,000–3,000 tonnes a year, but for produce buyers this surge toward the Middle East and Thailand means a risk of gradually rising sourcing unit prices. The extreme low-price phase through 2024 (white-flesh in the VND 5,000/kg range) has ended, and from 2026 onward the floor range is expected to be above VND 10,000/kg.
For OEM processing makers and juice manufacturers, the merit is that sourcing Halal-certified lots has become easier—for use as smoothie material, frozen puree, dried chips, and coloring raw material (betacyanin) made from the Vietnamese red-flesh variety. Japanese craft-drink and health-food brands can also make a sustainable-sourcing story combined with Vietnam × Middle East expansion into an appeal point. At the time of import, continued attention is needed to residual pesticides (items that diverge from Chinese standards, such as chlorpyrifos and dicofol) and to the risk of mechanical damage to the skin.
Ripple effects on the industry
The acceleration of dragon fruit's Middle East development is pushing the "Middle East commodification" of Vietnam's entire fruit-and-vegetable industry forward. Tropical fruits such as mango, passion fruit, lychee, and jackfruit are also advancing Halal certification for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Both the Ho Chi Minh–Dubai air route and the Hai Phong–Jeddah sea-container route are in a capacity-expansion phase, and cold-chain investment in southern Vietnam (packing houses and refrigerated warehouses) continues to grow at over 15% a year across the entire Mekong Delta.
On the other hand, breaking free of dependence on the Chinese market is not easy. China's own dragon fruit has annual output of over 1.6 million tonnes, and direct competition with Vietnamese product will continue. Vietnamese product organic cultivation, GlobalGAP certification, and story-branding needs to advance differentiation through these, and the major cooperatives of Long An Province and former Binh Thuan Province (now after the merger into Lam Dong Province) plan to double their organic-certified orchards over 2026–2027.
Practical information summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Items | Dragon fruit (white-flesh and red-flesh) |
| Main growing regions | Ham Thuan Nam district, former Binh Thuan Province (merged into Lam Dong Province in July 2025); Chau Thanh district, Long An Province; Tien Giang Province |
| January–February 2026 export value | US$108.5 million (about 16.28 billion yen, +14%) |
| Fast-growing markets | Thailand (US$9.2 million, about 1.38 billion yen, 2.7 times) and the UAE (US$3.3 million, about 500 million yen, +57%) |
| Largest market | China (US$66.5 million, about 9.98 billion yen, +5%) |
| Farm-gate price | White-flesh VND 10,000–15,000/kg, red-flesh VND 15,000–25,000/kg |
| Main export trading companies | Hoàng Phát Fruit、Lavifood、Nafoods Group |
| Transport modes | Land route (Thailand), air freight (UAE), sea (China and EU) |
Summary
The January–February 2026 trend for Vietnamese dragon fruit made it the first quarter in which "breaking free of dependence on China alone" appeared as a change in actual figures rather than a mere slogan. The growth of 2.7 times for Thailand and 57% for the UAE is the result of cold-chain development, Halal certification, and expanded air-freight capacity combined, bringing a recovery to a US$650–700 million annual level into view. In exchange for gradually rising sourcing unit prices, Japanese produce buyers and OEM processing makers quality standards, a sustainable-sourcing story, and year-round stable supply have entered a phase of enjoying these three. It is a timing to proceed with reviewing contract volumes and packing-house selection while keeping an eye on both moves in the Chinese market and Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian demand.
Related Articles
- Vietnamese green-skin pomelo in a US-export expansion phase—three years after the 2022 approval, US$17.5 million in Q1 2025
- Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports reach US$2.06 billion in January–April—accelerating toward the US$10 billion annual target
Sources
- Retail News Asia｜Vietnam’s Dragon Fruit Exports Soar: Thailand and Middle East Demand Spikes in 2026
- VnExpress｜Dragon fruit exports to Thailand, Middle East jump
- Fruitnet｜Vietnamese dragon fruit exports show signs of recovery
- FreshPlaza｜Vietnamese dragon fruit exports rise on growing demand
- Wikipedia | 2025 Vietnamese administrative reform (the merger of Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, and Dak Nong)
