The value of Vietnam’s dragon fruit exports to the US is continuing to grow rapidly, despite a dip in volumes shipped to the North American market this year, reports Vietnam’s southern fruit research institute, SOFRI.
Volumes fell by 19.4 per cent during the first seven months of this year compared to the prior-year period, but the value of shipments rose by 24.6 per cent to US$3.08m thanks to a jump in prices, said the group’s head of fruit marketing, Dr Luong Ngoc Trung Lap.
“The value of Vietnam’s dragon fruits to the US has consistently increased since 2009, and continues to grow rapidly this year,” he said.
Dr Nguyen Huu Dat, in charge of Vietnam’s preclearance progamme of irradiated fresh fruit to the US, estimates Vietnamese dragon fruit exports to the US have risen from 100 tonnes in 2008 to around 1,000 tonnes this year (down from 1,200 tonnes in 2011).
Vietnamese fruit exporters expect their volumes to the US to grow further in future following news in mid-September of the US Federal Reserve’s new US$40bn stimulus plan to boost the American economy.
Vietnam’s Tuo Tre News said fresh fruits are expected to enjoy large shipments to the US as a result of the move, and the country’s major exporters see it as a chance to boost exports to the US at a time when trade with other markets is slowing down.
Mai Xuan Thin, export director for leading Vietnamese dragon fruit shipper Red Dragon Company, believes US supermarket chains hold tremendous sales potential for Vietnamese dragon fruit if exporters can guarantee consistent produce quality.
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