HCM City (VNS/VNA) – In the first 11 months of this year dragon fruit exports fell by 10percent because of the COVID-19 pandemic but still dominated Vietnamese fruitexports with shipments of more than 1 billion USD.

But the storyVietnamese consumers know about dragon fruit is not its billion-dollar exportbut the need for rescue almost every year by authorities as they land in themarket at dirt cheap prices. In Ho Chi Minh City, it would then sell for 7,500VND per kilogramme or even 6,600 VND.

This is because of theoverwhelming dependence on the Chinese market. While it is now also exported tonew markets such as the US, the EU, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, Chinastill accounts for 92.3 percent of exports.

Thus, whenever thereis any problem in the Chinese market such as COVID-19 pandemic, therepercussions will immediately be felt in Vietnam. Moreover, it is not afavourite fruit in Vietnam.

But Chinese especiallylike the fruit thanks to its beautiful red colour, which makes it suitablefor worshipping.

In the past the supplyof dragon fruit was limited, and it used to cost 50,000 - 60,000 VND (2.2-2.6USD) per kilogramme, fetching great benefit to growers.

Compared to rice, itwas very profitable, and farmers massively increased the area under the fruitand output, and the inevitable consequence has been lower prices.

According to theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the area under the fruit now isabout 57,000 hectares and output is more than 500,000 tonnes, both 20 times upfrom 10 years ago.

To increase the valueof the fruit, achieving excellence at every step in the value chain is criticalto the long-term commercial success of premium fruits, experts said.

This year five tonnesof red-flesh dragon fruit were taken to Australia for a promotional event.

Australia permittedimport of Vietnamese dragon fruit in July last year after more than nine yearsof negotiations.

It is the first andstill only country to sell this fruit to Australia.

The promotion of thefruit was meant to grasp an opportunity to create a sustainable position in oneof the most demanding markets in the world./.