On May 23, Le Van Ngoc from Muong Man commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province, harvested and sold his off-season dragon fruit for a meager 4,000 VND per kilogram. This unexpected and disappointing price is significantly lower than the production cost of this off-season crop, which requires additional expenses for lighting and fertilizers.
“Given the high costs of lighting and fertilizers for off-season dragon fruit, the price should be 7,000-8,000 VND per kilogram for farmers to break even. At the current buying price, we are facing certain losses,” shared a disheartened Ngoc.
According to dragon fruit traders in Binh Thuan, the price of this export fruit has been on a downward spiral over the past month. Specifically, while it was still above 10,000 VND per kilogram in April 2025, it has now dropped to 4,000 VND if the entire garden’s fruit is purchased. If buyers select export-quality fruits, the selling price ranges from 7,000 to 8,000 VND per kilogram. However, if traders pick and choose, a significant portion of non-export quality dragon fruit will be left in the gardens. Currently, this lower-grade fruit is only purchased at 1,000-2,000 VND per kilogram, and some gardens are left with this fruit as traders deem the transportation costs too high.
Dragon fruit prices are taking a rapid dive at the start of the season
“There are two main reasons for the sharp drop in dragon fruit prices. Firstly, we are at the peak of the main crop season for various fruits, resulting in a large supply. Secondly, importing countries like China have successfully increased their domestic production, reducing their demand for imports,” explained Khanh, a trader in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province.
For dragon fruit farmers, the current period marks the transition between the off-season and the main crop season. With the current buying prices, farmers who invested in lighting for off-season production are facing losses.
Binh Thuan, the largest dragon fruit-growing region in Vietnam, has approximately 26,900 hectares of dragon fruit farms, with an estimated annual production of 580,000 tons. The province is promoting farming practices that adhere to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic standards to enhance sustainability and quality. However, prices remain volatile and dependent on market forces.
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At the current price, orchard owners can earn a profit of around 15,000 VND/kg.
