The price of Grade A Monthong durian at the warehouse has increased to 150,000 VND per kilogram, while Ri 6 durian is priced at 115,000 VND, double the price from two months ago.
Towards the end of the durian season in the Central Highlands, supply began to become scarce, causing prices to rise. According to a survey conducted over the past week, warehouse prices for Ri 6 Grade A (2.7 compartments, 2-5 kg) are 135,000 VND per kg, compared to around 50,000-55,000 VND at the beginning of August. Similarly, Monthong durian prices have increased from 70,000 VND to 150,000 VND per kg. For Grade B (2.5 compartments), Ri 6 is priced at 115,000 VND, while Monthong is 130,000 VND.
Mr. Hoang, a durian trader, said that supply is insufficient as the durian season in the Central Highlands is nearing its end. Traders like him are forced to shift their focus to purchasing off-season durian from the Mekong Delta provinces. However, off-season production is not enough to meet demand.
"Previously, I used to buy 10 tons a day, but now it's only 1-2 tons," Mr. Hoang said, adding that he expects durian prices to continue rising until February next year.
Export purchasing companies are also adjusting prices due to domestic supply shortages. A representative of a business in the Central Highlands said they are moving their purchasing stations to the Mekong Delta to collect off-season produce and meet the needs of their partners.
According to Ms. Hong, the owner of an off-season durian orchard in Cai Lay district ( Tien Giang province), due to unfavorable weather conditions, this year's durian trees bloomed late, extending the harvesting period. The current yield is not high, but prices have skyrocketed compared to the main season. "Traders are offering 100,000 VND per kilogram for Monthong durian harvested in bulk from the entire orchard," she shared.
In the first 10 months of this year, fruit and vegetable exports are estimated at $6.4 billion, with durian accounting for nearly half, at $3 billion. China is the main export market for this fruit. Besides fresh fruit, the signing of the protocol on frozen durian exports between Vietnam and China has opened up significant opportunities for the agricultural sector. Exports of frozen durian to this billion-person market could reach $400-500 million this year.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, predicts that durian prices will continue to rise as Chinese consumers increase their purchases as gifts during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , domestic and international demand for fruits and vegetables increased sharply in the last quarter of the year, along with the effectiveness of new protocols. This is the driving force behind the sustainable growth of Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports.
Forecasts for the whole year indicate that fruit and vegetable exports will exceed 7 billion USD, an increase of more than 25% compared to 2023. Of this, durian exports could reach a record 3.5 billion USD. This will be a new milestone for the fruit and vegetable industry, with durian continuing to play a leading role.
Last year, Vietnam exported 500,000 tons of fresh durian, earning $2.3 billion, with 90% going to China. Currently, the country has 154,000 hectares of durian plantations, producing nearly 1.2 million tons, with an expected annual growth rate of 15%.
Source
Comment (0)