In 2024, durian exports could reach a record 3.5 billion USD

According to preliminary statistics from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruite), in June 2024, fruit and vegetable exports reached about 800 million USD, an increase of 20.84% ​​over the same period. Accumulated from the beginning of the year to the end of June 2024, fruit and vegetable exports brought in 3.5 billion USD, an increase of 30.6% over the same period. Notably, durian accounted for 1.5 billion USD.

Durian exports bring in 1.5 billion USD in the first half of the year

Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association Dang Phuc Nguyen said that this year Vietnam aims to achieve revenue from durian of 3.5 billion USD, an increase of 55% compared to last year.

China is the largest market for durian from Vietnam. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the number 1 exporter of durian to the Chinese market with a volume of 32,750 tons, worth 161 million USD, 2.4 times higher in volume than the same period last year. Vietnam's durian market share in China in terms of turnover has increased from 32% in 2023 to 57%.

Currently, the authorities of Vietnam and China have completed technical negotiations to sign a protocol for exporting frozen durian and fresh coconut to China, and will then agree and sign the protocol. If China agrees to officially import frozen durian, the export value of durian will increase sharply. Because a container of frozen durian exported to China will have a value many times higher than that of fresh fruit.

In 2023, China will spend about 1 billion USD to import frozen durian, so in the first year of entering the Chinese market, Vietnam can export 300 - 500 million USD/year.

In the future, China will increase its imports of frozen split durian for processing because of reduced transportation costs due to the removal of the shell at the source. Vietnamese businesses exporting frozen products will also have less pressure to comply with plant quarantine regulations (possible harmful organisms associated with fresh fruit) and can sell deep into the Chinese mainland thanks to the long storage time.

However, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association noted that some recent shipments have been warned to be contaminated with banned substances, affecting the reputation of Vietnamese goods. Therefore, businesses need to increase inspections of banned substances right at the garden and packaging facility to ensure that no shipments contaminated with banned substances are exported.

The Plant Protection Department - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that localities and businesses need to closely monitor the codes of growing areas and packaging facilities, to avoid purchasing goods from unlicensed places, affecting the export activities of legitimate businesses.

In addition, Vietnam expects to expand durian exports to India, helping to reduce dependence on China and open up new development opportunities for the agricultural sector.

Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy, CEO of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Corporation, said that market expansion is very important, but the decisive factor is still the quality of Vietnamese durian. Ms. Vy believes that if good quality is maintained, Vietnamese durian will attract many potential markets in the future.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/nam-2024-xuat-khau-sau-rieng-co-the-dat-ky-luc-35-ty-usd-330550.html