Ho Nam, a trader in Binh Thuan, said dragon fruit demand exceeds supply, resulting in higher prices. He only manages to buy one to two tons a day compared to three to four tons a year ago, he said. "This year’s intense heat and drought have caused many orchards to dry out and trees to die, causing output to drop by 20-30%."

Prices are up VND10,000-15,000 per kilogram from February, but would decrease when the fruit enters the main harvest season, he added.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said between December and May China imports more dragon fruits to meet its demand, and so prices rise during this period.

Another reason for the rising prices is that less dragon fruit is being grown in Vietnam after farmers switched to other crops such as durian and jackfruit in 2023 when prices fell sharply.

Data from customs shows dragon fruit exports in the first two months of this year increased by nearly 10% year-on-year to $117 million. Major markets included China, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea.