Durian is playing an important role in agricultural exports.

Increased control at border gates

At Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2 (Lao Cai province), the average amount of fresh fruit exported each day is currently about 100 trucks, of which more than 90 trucks are durian, the rest are dragon fruit, banana, jackfruit, grapefruit... At the present time, the price of Monthong durian is about 90 thousand VND/kg, Ri6 durian is about 60 thousand VND/kg, each truck of exported goods has a value of 1.1 - 1.5 billion VND.

Durian is playing an important role in agricultural exports.

According to Lao Cai Border Gate Customs Branch, in the first 6 months of 2024, the total value of imported and exported goods through Lao Cai border gate reached 1.1 billion USD. Of which, the value of exported agricultural products reached 535 million USD, most of which were durian exports with nearly 97 thousand tons (worth 412 million USD), dragon fruit (49.6 million USD), watermelon (13.6 million USD),... Durian is playing an important role in agricultural exports.

However, according to export enterprises, recently, China has stepped up quarantine and inspection of banned substances, especially heavy metal content on durian. Results will be available after 2-3 days, and only then will durian be eligible to be imported into your country. Therefore, there have been vehicles with delayed deliveries, even returned due to poor quality.

To minimize this risk, durian traders and exporters proactively check the cadmium content before shipping to Lao Cai. Currently, there are about 17 points that can check the cadmium content of the fruit. These testing points are located near durian orchards or major cities. This can ensure the quality of the product when exporting to the Chinese market.

Need to maintain quality to increase export turnover

Regarding concerns about durian containing “heavy metal” residues exceeding the permitted level, Mr. Nguyen Quy Duong - Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - informed that after China issued a warning about more than 30 batches of durian contaminated with cadmium, the Department established a working group to inspect and collect samples (including soil, water, fertilizer, etc.) at factories and growing areas on the warning list. However, during this inspection, the Department has not yet found the cause.

Currently, the Department continues to establish a working group for the second inspection. The Department is discussing with businesses, packaging facilities, and growing areas, focusing on Tien Giang province. The units are working diligently and actively. Results are expected to be available in July. At that time, the Department will announce information and work with the Chinese side to find a way to handle this issue.

Vietnam was granted its first license to export durian to China in 2021, becoming the country's second-largest durian supplier, after Thailand. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, China imported 1.4 million tons of durian in 2023. Of which, Thailand's market share in USD terms decreased from nearly 100% in 2021 to about 68%.

In the first five months of this year, Thailand exported $2.2 billion worth of durian to China, down 2.5 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s export turnover of this item to China increased by 61 percent to $661.48 million.

Imported durian from Vietnam is believed to be the reason for the price drop in China. In the country of a billion people, durian is considered the “king of fruits” and is often given as a gift on special occasions such as weddings.

According to analysts, the large import demand from China in recent times has helped Vietnam's durian market share in this country increase rapidly, but this may also be the reason why many farmers chase quantity and ignore quality.

According to experts, China is a large market with many opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural exports, but there are very strict regulations. Therefore, individuals and businesses participating in import and export need to proactively consult and find out information about businesses and partners supplying goods before signing contracts.

In particular, for durian exported through Lao Cai, it is necessary to ensure that the growing area code is not included in the list of restricted goods by China due to violations... Thereby, avoiding bringing goods to the border gate but not being able to export and deliver to partners.

The sudden increase in export volume without quality control may affect the reputation of Vietnamese durian. According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, countries are currently focusing on quality control and brand protection. This is also something that Vietnamese durian exporting enterprises need to pay attention to in order to increase their competitiveness in this billion-people market.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/sau-rieng-dang-dong-vai-tro-quan-trong-trong-xuat-khau-nong-san-329144.html