Scarce supply, Thai durian price increases to over 150,000 VND/kg

According to a survey, the price of Ri6 durian and Thai durian continues to increase sharply today, with prices doubling compared to previous months. At the end of the durian season in the Central Highlands, the supply began to be scarce, which is the reason for the price increase.

According to the reporter's records over the past 10 days, the price at warehouses in the Central Highlands and neighboring areas for Ri 6 type A (2.7 boxes, 2-5 kg) is 135,000 VND/kg, while in early August it was around 50,000-55,000 VND/kg. Similarly, Thai Monthong durian also increased from 70,000 VND to 150,000 VND/kg. For type B (2.5 boxes), Ri 6 costs 115,000 VND/kg, while Thai Monthong durian is 130,000 VND/kg.

A durian trader said there was a shortage of supply as the durian crop in the Central Highlands was about to end. Traders were forced to switch to buying off-season durian from the Mekong Delta provinces. However, off-season production was not enough to meet demand, and the shortage of supply caused durian prices to continuously increase over the past week.

Previously, they could buy about 10 tons per day, but now they can only buy 1-2 tons. It is expected that durian prices will continue to increase until the end of the year.

A representative of a business in the Central Highlands said they moved purchasing stations to the West and Southeast regions to collect off-season goods and meet the needs of partners.

Due to scarce supply, the price of Thai durian has increased to over 150,000 VND/kg. Photo: MH

According to owners of off-season durian gardens in Cai Lay District (Tien Giang), due to unfavorable weather conditions such as storms, floods and heavy rains, this year's durians bloomed late and the harvest period was longer. The current output is not much, but the price has skyrocketed compared to the main crop.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, by October, durian exports to China broke the 2023 record, bringing Vietnam more than 3 billion USD.

In addition to the diversity of varieties and delicious quality, one of the reasons why durian brings such a large export turnover is because of the abundant output of Vietnamese durian, up to 1.5 million tons per year.

Durian harvest season is scattered throughout the year, shipping time to the Chinese market is quite fast and the price is reasonable.

For many years, China has been the world's largest consumer of durian. In 2023, the country spent nearly 7 billion USD to purchase large quantities of durian from Southeast Asian countries, mainly from Thailand and Vietnam.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development believes that Vietnam still has a lot of potential to export durian to China because the size of this market will quickly reach the 10 billion USD mark in the near future.

After 9 months, according to statistics from the General Department of Customs, durian exports (HS code 0810.60.00) have reached 2.66 billion USD, a sharp increase of 63.7%, equivalent to an increase of 1.04 billion USD compared to the same period last year. Vietnam's "king fruit" continues to break the record of the whole year 2023, although there are still 3 months left until the end of 2024.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, predicts that durian prices will continue to increase as Chinese consumers increase their purchases as gifts during holidays and Tet.

It is forecasted that the export turnover of fruits and vegetables will exceed 7 billion USD for the whole year, an increase of more than 25% compared to 2023. Of which, durian may reach a record 3.5 billion USD. This will be a new milestone for the fruit and vegetable industry, in which durian still plays a key role.

Last year, Vietnam exported 500,000 tons of fresh durian, worth $2.3 billion, with 90% going to China. Currently, the country has 154,000 hectares of durian, with an output of nearly 1.2 million tons, expected to grow 15% per year.

In the Mekong Delta region, the price of Ri6 A durian ranges from 127,000 - 135,000 VND/kg, while Ri6 B durian is purchased for 115,000 - 120,000 VND/kg. Ri6 C durian is priced from 55,000 - 65,000 VND/kg. Thai A durian in this region continues to increase sharply, currently at 145,000 - 150,000 VND/kg, while Thai B durian is traded for 120,000 - 135,000 VND/kg, and Thai C durian fluctuates between 60,000 - 65,000 VND/kg.

In the Southeast region, Ri6 A durian costs from 115,000 to 125,000 VND/kg, and Ri6 B ranges from 95,000 to 100,000 VND/kg. Ri6 C remains at 55,000 to 60,000 VND/kg. Thai A durian costs 135,000 to 140,000 VND/kg, Thai B reaches 115,000 to 125,000 VND/kg, and Thai C ranges from 50,000 to 60,000 VND/kg.

Similarly, the price of Musang King durian in the Southeast is as follows: Musang King type A: 105,000 VND/kg. type B: 90,000 VND/kg

In the Central Highlands, Ri6 A durian costs from 115,000 to 125,000 VND/kg, Ri6 B from 95,000 to 105,000 VND/kg and Ri6 C from 55,000 to 60,000 VND/kg. In particular, beautiful Thai A durian here costs from 135,000 to 152,000 VND/kg, Thai B durian is 115,000 to 132,000 VND/kg, and Thai C durian is around 60,000 to 65,000 VND/kg.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/nguon-cung-khan-hiem-gia-sau-rieng-thai-tang-len-tren-150000-dongkg-355193.html