Statistics from the General Department of Customs show that durian continues to be the fruit with the highest export turnover in the fruit and vegetable industry. In the first 9 months of 2024, the "fruit king" brought in 2.82 billion USD, up 63.3% over the same period last year and accounting for more than 50% of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export turnover.

In particular, last September, durian export turnover reached nearly 674 million USD (about 16,850 billion VND), an increase of 24.9% compared to August.

China is Vietnam's largest durian export market, accounting for over 90% of the export value of this billion-dollar fruit.

Speaking with PV. VietNamNet , Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - estimated that by the end of October 2024, durian exports would reach over 3 billion USD.

According to him, the main harvest season in the Central Highlands has almost ended, so the amount of durian exported from now until the end of the year will not be as much as in the middle months of the year. However, the West is entering the off-season durian harvest season.

It is worth mentioning that at this time, only Vietnam has durian for harvest in the world, so it has a near monopoly, especially in the Chinese market. In addition, the decrease in durian output in the Western region this year has pushed the price of this commodity up sharply, to a sky-high level, said the leader of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

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During the off-season, durian prices in our country skyrocket. Photo: Manh Khuong

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by the end of October, the country's harvested durian output was estimated at 1.1 million tons, up 20% over the same period last year. In October 2024 alone, the harvested output reached 154,200 tons, down 15% compared to September.

In recent days, durian prices in growing areas have increased sharply due to supply shortages, while demand remains high. Mr. Nguyen Nhat in Xuan Dinh commune (Xuan Loc, Dong Nai), said that the price of Thai durian in the Southeast region has approached VND200,000/kg for grade 1 goods, Ri6 durian is being purchased at the warehouse for VND150,000/kg.

Sharing about the recent increase in durian prices, Mr. Huynh Tan Loc - Director of Ngu Hiep Durian Cooperative (Tien Giang) - said: "Durian is so expensive that the Cooperative does not dare to buy it for export. Meanwhile, at this time last year, the Cooperative purchased several dozen tons of goods every day."

He cited that the price of grade A durian purchased at the farm has jumped to 190,000-200,000 VND/kg, while grade B is about 20,000 VND/kg lower than grade A. Similarly, the price of Ri6 durian, grade A, has also increased to 150,000 VND/kg. As for the price of durian purchased at the garden, the price of durian ranges from 130,000-170,000 VND/kg for grade A.

According to Mr. Loc, this year the weather is not favorable for this crop. Therefore, although there are many durian flowers, the fruit set rate is low, leading to a significant decrease in the output in the off-season compared to the same period last year.

“In the West, there are currently hundreds of durian warehouses. The scarcity of durian means traders are searching all over the gardens, pushing up the price of durian,” he said.

In particular, the off-season durian harvest starts from October this year and lasts until February next year, which is also the time when Vietnam has almost a monopoly on fresh whole durian in the world market because other countries have finished their harvest season. Along with that, Vietnamese businesses that sign export orders with Chinese partners are forced to deliver on time, so at this time they have to buy enough at any price.

These are the reasons that pushed the price of durian up sharply to 200,000 VND/kg, Mr. Loc further explained. At the same time, he predicted that in the coming time, during the peak of Tet holiday, the price of this fruit is likely to increase even higher, because in China many people prefer to choose durian as a gift.

“The price of durian is now increasing rapidly, just like the price of gold recently,” he said. Therefore, Ngu Hiep Durian Cooperative has not dared to sign large orders for long-term export, only signing immediate orders to avoid risks when prices collapse.

Regarding the forecast of export turnover this year, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen calculated that the "king of Vietnamese fruits" could bring in 3.5 billion USD.

Regarding the export of frozen durian to the Chinese market, the leader of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said that businesses are still in the process of applying for growing area codes. It is expected that the first shipment can be exported to China at the earliest by the end of this year or early next year.

However, due to the high price of durian, most businesses will choose to export fresh whole fruit. If they freeze the durian pulp for export, the cost will be very high.

Usually, businesses only choose to freeze durian pulp when there is an abundant supply and low price. Thus, when bringing the goods to the Chinese market, the price to consumers will be more reasonable and competitive, Mr. Nguyen said.

Vietnam's durian imports increased dramatically by 1,057% Compared to the same period last year, durian imports in the first 8 months of this year increased dramatically by 1,057%, or nearly 11.6 times.