Jackfruit has emerged as one of Vietnam’s most promising fruit export products, particularly following China’s official approval for direct imports of fresh Vietnamese jackfruit starting June 1, 2026. Supported by large-scale production, abundant supply, and growing international demand, the fruit is increasingly viewed as a potential billion-dollar export commodity in the years ahead.

According to trade statistics, Vietnam’s jackfruit exports reached more than USD 38 million in April 2026, up 75% compared to the previous month and 28% higher than the same period in 2025.

During the first four months of 2026, cumulative jackfruit exports exceeded USD 112 million, representing year-on-year growth of 6.6%. The product accounted for approximately 5.5% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable export turnover and ranked among the country's top ten fruit and vegetable export products.

China remains the largest export market for Vietnamese jackfruit.

The Chinese market primarily imports jackfruit from Vietnam and Thailand, with yellow-fleshed Thai jackfruit (Chanrai variety) being the most popular product, alongside several red-fleshed varieties.

In addition to fresh consumption, a significant portion of imported jackfruit is used as raw material for processed products, including dried jackfruit, jackfruit powder, and various food applications.

Vietnam currently has approximately 84,000 hectares of jackfruit cultivation, of which around 56,000 hectares are in commercial production, generating nearly one million tonnes of output annually.

Notably, approximately 85% of the country’s specialized jackfruit-growing area consists of early-maturing Thai jackfruit varieties, which serve as the primary export product for the fresh fruit market.

A major milestone for the industry came on June 1, 2026, when fresh Vietnamese jackfruit officially became eligible for direct export to China following the issuance of phytosanitary import requirements by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Previously, in 2025, Vietnam and China signed five agricultural export protocols covering chili peppers, passion fruit, rice bran, raw bird’s nests, and fresh jackfruit.

Industry observers believe that gaining official access to the Chinese market will create substantial growth opportunities for the jackfruit sector while helping address many of the challenges faced by growers in recent years.

In practice, domestic jackfruit prices have remained significantly lower than historical levels.

The primary cause has been export-related difficulties, particularly delays associated with inspections for cadmium residues and auramine O contamination, which extended customs clearance times.

Several shipments were flagged or rejected, causing export volumes to be redirected into the domestic market and placing additional pressure on prices.

Beyond China, experts believe substantial export opportunities remain in premium markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East.

Current consumer trends increasingly favor tropical fruits that are naturally sweet, high in fiber, and rich in nutritional value, characteristics that align well with jackfruit.

Beyond its economic value, jackfruit is also recognized by international agricultural experts as a crop with strong resilience to climate change.

Jackfruit trees can thrive under a wide range of environmental conditions, demonstrate good drought tolerance, experience relatively few pest problems, and require limited maintenance once mature.

For these reasons, some experts have referred to jackfruit as a potential “crop of the future” in an era of increasingly extreme weather conditions.

In the United States, several jackfruit varieties have already been successfully cultivated in Florida.

According to estimates by Padre, editor of Adike Patrike magazine in India, a single jackfruit tree can generate approximately USD 150 in economic value through fruit production and related products.

This illustrates the considerable commercial potential of a tropical crop in which Vietnam currently enjoys significant production advantages.

If Vietnam can capitalize on market opportunities, strengthen growing area management, and further develop value-added processing industries, jackfruit has the potential to become one of the country’s next billion-dollar fruit and vegetable export sectors in the coming years.

Source: CafeF