Vietnam's frozen durian market will open to the Chinese market from August 2024. However, so far, expectations for a rebound in export turnover of this fruit remain on paper.
Vietnamese durian is separated from its segments before being frozen for export - Photo: T.TRUNG
What to do to promote frozen durian exports in 2025?
Still worried about not meeting standards
According to regulations, exported frozen durian includes whole durian (with shell), pureed durian (without shell) and durian pulp (without shell).
On the market, the average export price of grade 1 frozen durian is 170,000 - 180,000 VND/kg, the lower grade has an average price of 140,000 - 150,000 VND/kg. Therefore, the value of each container of frozen durian is 7-8 billion VND, 3-4 times higher than fresh durian.
However, Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy - Deputy Director of Chanh Thu Import-Export Company Limited (Ben Tre) - said that this year the company has not exported frozen durian to China.
As one of the five pioneering enterprises exporting durian officially to the Chinese market, the owner of this enterprise said she has not signed a contract to export frozen durian to China.
"Currently, fresh durian is out of season, the price is very high, while if we export frozen durian this year, it will be at its peak, the profit will not be as good," said Ms. Vy.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bui Phu Ton - Director of Nghiep Xuan Import-Export Trading Company Limited (Gia Nghia City, Dak Nong Province) - said that the unit has experience exporting frozen durian and is currently only present in Thailand.
In 2024, this company "boastfully" exported dozens of containers of frozen durian to Thailand at an average price of VND150,000/kg. As for the Chinese market, Mr. Ton's company has not been granted an export certificate because compliance with procedures is still being assessed.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Nam - a trader in Hanoi specializing in agricultural product export, even Vietnamese businesses with export licenses and available sources of goods... still cannot promote immediately.
Listing the problems, Mr. Nam said the first was the criteria for container temperature to preserve frozen durian - the core temperature is minus 18oC or lower, and this temperature must be maintained throughout the storage and transportation process. However, when transferring goods from Vietnamese containers to Chinese containers, the temperature is not guaranteed as prescribed, so the goods are not of good quality.
"If the contract is not strict, Vietnam will be responsible or the purchasing enterprise will be responsible. At the customs gate, many costs have been "increased" on the container of goods, so enterprises are worried that if it is returned, they will suffer great losses," Mr. Nam explained.
In addition, from the beginning of January 2025, China requires all durian shipments from exporting countries to have additional certificates of inspection for yellow O and cadmium (the inspection centers for these two substances must be recognized by China). This regulation applies to 100% inspection of shipments, only when they meet the requirements will they be cleared through customs.
"Vietnamese frozen durian must also comply with the same regulations as fresh durian. Businesses are looking for solutions to control cadmium residue and yellow O at the border gate to ensure safety before signing contracts. Therefore, frozen durian products are exported to your country more slowly than expected," Mr. Nam added.
The value of each container of frozen durian exported by Vietnam is 7-8 billion VND, 3-4 times higher than fresh durian - Photo: PHU TON
Everything is "clear", but businesses on both sides are "not open"!?
According to the leader of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), on the management side, the authorities have completed all registration procedures with the Chinese side, only the two businesses have not yet reached an agreement and have not agreed on a contract with each other.
"If there is a real problem from the management agencies of both sides, businesses can call the department directly to complain, we will resolve it," the leader of the Plant Protection Department emphasized.
The Plant Protection Department also said that in the coming time, the ministry will organize training and guidance for units participating in export, supporting businesses and farmers.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that Vietnamese frozen durian's desire to "set foot" in China depends on the signing of contracts between businesses of the two countries.
"The licensed enterprises may have passed China's regulations and standards related to food safety and plant quarantine. However, it may be because the two enterprises have not yet agreed on the contract.
To export, businesses need to ensure packaging facilities, growing areas; freezing capacity and cold storage; standards related to food hygiene and safety and plant quarantine of China. In particular, frozen durian must come from durian growing areas registered, managed and supervised in Vietnam," said Mr. Binh.
Similarly, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association also recommends that businesses need to quickly update requirements and prepare documents and contracts carefully to avoid the risk of returned goods.
Great expectations for durian exports
In August 2024, the protocol on inspection, quarantine and food safety requirements for frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China will take effect. China ranks third in the world in durian consumption with 19% of total durian consumption each year, after Indonesia (40%) and Malaysia (24%).
According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry aims to export $8 billion in 2025 with fresh and frozen durian as the main driver.
Every year, the Chinese market imports about 7 billion USD of fresh durian, a figure expected to exceed 10 billion USD in a short time. In addition, the country of 1.4 billion people currently spends up to 1 billion USD on importing frozen durian. Therefore, Vietnam's durian export target in 2025 is 3.5 billion USD.
Vietnam's frozen durian faces fierce competition
According to agricultural export enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, China is a large market that most exporting countries aim for, so competition for market share is very large.
This person informed that after several "reconnaissance" visits to supermarkets and shopping malls in China, the main products are fresh Thai durian (Dona, Mongthong), and frozen durian is mainly frozen whole fruit from Malaysia (Musangking).
This person said: "I have a partner in China, they think that the Chinese consumer market prefers whole frozen durian from Malaysia. Because of its beautiful appearance and good quality, the Malaysian durian brand is familiar to almost every household in China. Frozen durian from Vietnam will have to compete a lot when it comes to consumers here."
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/loay-hoay-xuat-khau-sau-rieng-dong-lanh-sang-trung-quoc-20250309002845029.htm
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