The Canadian market is rapidly emerging as a “land of promise” for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, consistently recording remarkable export growth. In particular, our fresh and delicious Dragon Fruit (Thanh Long) is successfully captivating Canadian consumers, unlocking a high-potential trade gateway.
However, this bright picture is accompanied by significant concerns. The global agricultural trade is entering an increasingly fierce phase of competition.
Rising Competition: The Challenge from Latin America
A concerning signal is the rise of powerful competitors. Major agricultural nations like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico—leveraging advantages in land and climate—are rapidly investing and successfully cultivating tropical crops that were traditionally Southeast Asia’s strengths, including: Durian, Lychee, and Rambutan.
The arrival of these “non-traditional” tropical fruits from Latin America poses a major challenge regarding pricing, supply, and future market share.
The question remains: Can Vietnamese Dragon Fruit maintain its dominant position in Canada? And what must Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable industry do to overcome this new wave of competition?
Vietnam’s Market Dominance in Key Produce Categories
In 2024, Vietnam exported nearly $120 million worth of fruit and nut products to Canada, with cashew nuts alone accounting for 65% ($78 million).
Vietnam remains the leading exporter of:
- Dragon Fruit
- Lime and Grapefruit (Exports increased sharply by 483%, driven by a ten-fold increase in raw material supply over the last five years)
- Fresh Coconut
- More recently: Guava, Mango, Longan, Durian, and Fresh Lychee—areas where Vietnam has yet to face strong rivals.
Logistics: Sea vs. Air Freight for Perishables
Understanding the logistical demands is crucial for maintaining the fruit’s quality upon arrival.
Shipping Method | Transit Time | Cost/Challenge | Application |
Sea Freight (Container) | 25-30 days (To Vancouver, British Columbia) | Longer transit time, requires superior preservation. | Overcome by initial achievements in applying advanced post-harvest processing and preservation techniques. |
Air Freight | 2-3 days | High cost: $2-3 USD/kg (freight rate). | Ideal for preserving freshness, often chosen by businesses without optimized post-harvest methods due to its speed. |

Export Specifications: What Canadian Importers Demand
The Canadian fruit import market reached approximately $6 billion in 2024, demanding high product quality. To increase export value, Vietnamese enterprises must rigorously ensure Food Safety and Hygiene (FS&H).

Approved Dragon Fruit Varieties: All major varieties are permitted for official export to Canada:
- White-fleshed Dragon Fruit
- Red-fleshed Dragon Fruit (The most popular and demanded in the market)
- Yellow-fleshed Dragon Fruit
Post-Harvest Preservation & Quality Control
For Sea Freight (Full Container Load – FCL):
- Fruit Selection: Must be hard/firm and meet all necessary export standards.
- Weight: Larger fruits are preferred by the market (500 grams and up).
- Preservation: Preservation chemicals and technology must be applied at the correct dosage and be suitable for long-distance travel.
- Packaging: Must be packed according to strict requirements to maintain quality.

For Air Freight:
- Fruit Selection: Ripe fruit samples with excellent aesthetics.
- Preservation: Preservation methods must be carefully chosen as the fruit is highly susceptible to wilting due to thermal shock.
- Packaging: Must be packed accurately to the required weight due to the high shipping cost.

Aesthetic and Size Standards
- Target Consumer: The primary consumers are Asian customer groups, who demand large-sized fruits.
- Market Focus: As a premium market, aesthetics are primary, followed by quality (sweetness/flavor).
- Reference Video for Selection Standards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oma1TarOwF4

Packaging and Container Loading Requirements
For Sea Freight (40ft Container):
- Loading: Bulk loading is permissible; pallets are not required.
- Carton Specifications: 9kg net weight; minimum 5-ply carton with an external plastic film (waterproof) and internal vent holes.
- Capacity: A 40ft container can load 2,072 cartons (equivalent to 18,648 kg).
- Temperature & Ventilation: Container temperature must be maintained at 2-5°C, with vent set to 25.

For Air Freight:
- Packaging: No specific, strict requirements. Typically shipped in Styrofoam boxes, with common packing weights of 10-13kg net per box (plus approx. 500g/box for the box weight).
OURCE OF SUPPLY OF DRAGON FRUIT
If you have not found a reputable and abundant source of fruits. You can refer to and come to FRUIT95’s direct production system to choose for yourself products that meet quality standards, feel secure about the origin at the best price.
Mail: Ad.fruit95@gmail.com / Phone: (+84) 934 01 62 82 Mr.Triển
Mail: Ad1.fruit95@gmail.com / Phone: (+84) 987 364 651 Mrs.Sophia
XNK FRUIT95 COMPANY LIMITED
See more:
- Seize the opportunity to export dragon to Maylaysia
- 5 Steps of exporting Red dragon Cont 20ft to New Zealand
- Nearly 5 tons of red dragon exported to Australia.
- Export more than 1 ton dragon to America
- Đơn hàng xuất khẩu Thanh long sang thị trường Mĩ
- Công ty TNHH XNK Fruit95
- Thanh long đỏ Việt “bay” sang Mĩ
- Sức cạnh tranh Thanh long xuất khẩu
- DRAGON FRUITS EXPORTED TO PHILIPPINES 14/4/24
- DRAGON FRUITS EXPORTED TO MIDDLE EAST 11/4/24
- RED DRAGON EXPORTED TO THE USA 9/4/2024
- DRAGON FRUITS EXPORTED TO RUSSIA 7/4/24
- DRAGON FRUITS EXPORTED TO EU 6/4/24
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