More countries import Vietnamese durian

"The world has begun to eat durian"

This is the opinion of "durian king" Doan Nguyen Duc (Bau Duc) at the recent meeting of shareholders of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Company (HAGL). According to Mr. Duc, for the Chinese market, the potential for durian consumption is still very large because only more than 10% of the country's population "knows how to eat" durian and many of them have only eaten it 1-2 times. Mr. Duc jokingly said that durian is a highly addictive product, and those who are addicted cannot give it up. He himself is also a person who has only eaten durian in recent years and is now addicted.

Vietnam durian exports reach record value

"In addition to the Chinese market, many other markets in the world have started to eat durian. Durian is a typical product of the tropics, and cannot be grown in other climates. That is why we will expand the durian growing area from 1,200 hectares to 2,000 hectares in the next 1-2 years," said the "durian king".

Regularly updating the export market situation of fruits and vegetables, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), agreed with Mr. Duc's assessment. Citing data from the General Department of Customs, Mr. Nguyen analyzed: Vietnam's total durian export turnover in 2023 is estimated to reach 2.22 billion USD. By the end of November, fresh durian exports reached more than 2 billion USD, while frozen durian reached nearly 130 million USD. If calculated by market, China reached 2 billion USD, an increase of 1,515% over the same period last year. However, the strongest increase was the Czech Republic market, up 28,195%, reaching a value of 10 million USD. In addition, many markets such as Canada, the US, and Papua New Guinea, although their value was only about 4 - 6 million USD, achieved a growth rate of 222 - 837%.

Regarding frozen durian, Thailand is the biggest buyer of Vietnam. In the past 11 months, Thai people spent up to 97 million USD to buy frozen durian from Vietnam, followed by the US with more than 18 million USD; Canada, South Korea, China and Australia also imported 2-3 million USD of frozen durian. In addition, Vietnam also exported an additional 2 million USD of dried durian to the Chinese market.

"For fresh durian and the Chinese market, Vietnam has an advantageous geographical location, so the freshness of the product is a big advantage. In addition, Asians all over the world are also potential customers. In addition to fresh products, we can process them so that the products will be exported more easily. Or for frozen durian, Thailand is Vietnam's largest importer with nearly 100 million USD. But because we exported fresh fruit smoothly this year, frozen goods decreased by about 8.5%. Vietnamese durian has an advantage thanks to its good quality and competitive price," Mr. Nguyen commented.

The monopoly of Vietnamese durian

In the last two months of 2023, when the entire world supply of durian was gone, Vietnam still achieved export turnover of 90 and 50 million USD, respectively. Vietnamese durian is grown from the Western provinces to the Central Highlands and the harvest season therefore lasts from April to December. In addition, thanks to good cultivation techniques, many gardeners also adjust the crop season early or late, even producing off-season fruit, so Vietnam has durian all year round.

Meanwhile, Thailand, the main competitor of Vietnamese durian, only harvests concentratedly from July to September. Therefore, in the remaining months of the year, Vietnamese durian has a monopoly on the market. As at present, the price of durian at the garden is twice as high as that of durian in the main season. Specifically, the highest price of Thai durian is 150,000 VND/kg, Ri6 durian bought in bulk is 100,000 - 120,000 VND/kg.

Most experts are optimistic about the durian market in 2024. Mr. Duc said that the durian area will be harvested up to 300 - 400 hectares. In 2024, his company will sell directly to Chinese distributors instead of selling through traders like in 2023. In China, there is a community of 500 fruit and vegetable importers. Every day, suppliers will quote prices and quantities, and when partners close the order, they will ship the goods and receive money. HAGL is the first Vietnamese enterprise to be present in that community as a banana distributor. HAGL will sell durian to China in that way.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen forecasts: In 2024, durian exports could increase by about 1 - 1.5 billion USD compared to 2023 thanks to the continued expansion of the Chinese market and Vietnamese farmers having more growing area codes and packaging facilities. In addition, if China soon grants licenses for frozen durian products from Vietnam like Thailand, it will create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese durian to grow.

"However, according to my recent observations, the Chinese market is also facing some economic problems that affect people's income. This may more or less affect high-end products such as durian. Therefore, I currently only dare to estimate that in 2024 it will increase by about 1 billion USD compared to this year. In addition to the Chinese market, other markets will also continue to grow well because the target audience for durian is expanding," Mr. Nguyen commented.

In 2023, the price of Vietnamese durian will be equivalent to that of Thailand at many times thanks to the freshness of the product. New highways recently put into use and some upcoming sections will increase connectivity from production areas to the Chinese consumption market. This will continue to increase the advantage of freshness of Vietnamese durian products compared to other sources.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen (General Secretary of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association)

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/them-nhieu-nuoc-nhap-khau-sau-rieng-viet-nam-185231228232559426.htm