Continuous export growth has made durian the most profitable crop in recent years, thus the durian acreage has "exploded" everywhere with the expectation of getting rich. However, durian is not yet in the main season but has reversed and the price has decreased compared to the same period last year...
Continuous export growth has made durian the most profitable crop in recent years, thus the durian acreage has "exploded" everywhere with the expectation of getting rich.
However, durian prices have now reversed, not yet in season, but have decreased compared to the same period last year, causing many farmers to feel like they are sitting on fire...
Durian prices fall...
In the Mekong Delta, the provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Can Tho City... have the largest durian acreage; although it is not yet the main durian harvest season in 2025, farmers are extremely worried because prices have dropped sharply.
Mr. Huynh Van On, residing in Tan Phu commune, Chau Thanh district (Ben Tre), said: "Before Tet At Ty 2025, he harvested more than 2 tons of early durian Ri6 variety, selling for 80,000 VND/kg; then the price continuously decreased to about 40,000-50,000 VND/kg, while in the same period last year it was from 110,000-130,000 VND/kg".
Also in Tan Phu commune, Ms. Cao Thi Chien said: "This year, her family has more than 8 tons of Ri6 durian that bears fruit early. In December 2024, the harvest was harvested early and was bought by traders at a price of 110,000 VND/kg, so the profit was quite good; however, by the end of January 2025, the price dropped to 55,000 VND/kg again, so the profit decreased quite a bit. Farmers were very regretful but had to sell because they were worried about whether the price would drop further or not."
Sharing the same sentiment, many durian farmers in Tien Giang are also unhappy because of low prices. Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, in Hiep Duc commune, Cai Lay district, shared: "Durian has been the main crop of this region for many years and this is also the main economy. Last year, durian had a good harvest and high prices, helping many households earn billions of dong; but now, only early durian is available, but everyone is worried because of low prices and slow consumption. If this situation does not improve soon, in about 1-2 months when the main harvest season begins, it will be very difficult to consume and export."
Taking us to visit the durian garden that just produced its first crop this year, Mr. Huynh Phu Loc, a resident of Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province, admitted: "A few years ago, seeing other places getting rich from durian, I destroyed my pink grapefruit garden to switch to growing this billion-dollar tree.
In 2025, the harvest will begin, but the price has dropped sharply, so I don't dare to call traders to come and see the garden. For now, we will focus on taking care of the plants and wait a few more weeks to decide how to sell them..."
According to many long-time durian growers in the Mekong Delta, normally early durian harvested from January to the end of February of the lunar calendar every year will cost no less than 70,000-90,000 VND/kg (Ri6 variety); last year it was up to 110,000-130,000 VND/kg. However, in 2025, the price is too low, although farmers have not yet suffered losses, the profits are not much...
Do not increase area, focus on improving quality
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thinh, Director of Tan Phu Agricultural Cooperative, Chau Thanh District (Ben Tre Province) acknowledged that currently, in addition to the fact that durian prices are lower than the same period last year, most of the early fruiting gardens have reduced their output by 40-60% due to unfavorable weather and heavy rain, which makes fruit setting not as expected.
This shows that the profits are not as expected, but farmers and businesses are even more worried that in the next few months, when all provinces enter the peak harvest season, production will increase, and there will be a situation of "season - market overflow - price drop".
Durian trees used to help farmers in the Mekong Delta earn billions of dollars, but now they are facing difficulties because durian prices have dropped.
The reason for the plummeting durian prices is due to the impact of Chinese authorities testing for Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) - a chemical that can cause cancer, when exporting durian to this billion-people market.
Previously, at the end of 2024, the General Administration of Customs of China discovered that several batches of durian imported from Thailand had yellow O residue, so on January 10, 2025, China announced the application of strict inspection measures on imported durian batches.
Accordingly, when durian enters the Chinese market, in addition to the cadmium inspection certificate (as before), it must now have an additional O-yellow inspection certificate.
This new regulation has caused difficulties for some Vietnamese durian exporting enterprises; some of them brought their goods to the border gate but had to return because they did not have the yellow O certificate. Also, the slow customs clearance at the border gate has caused the domestic durian price to drop sharply.
Faced with the above situation, the leader of the agricultural sector noted: It is necessary to see that China is a large durian consumer market in the world and recently they have issued new regulations on testing for yellow O quality, so we must comply when bringing durian to this billion-people market.
The industry is coordinating with localities to review and inspect growing areas, care processes, antibiotic residues, packaging facilities, etc. to meet the criteria set by the O-yellow quality inspection. Basically, it must meet the requirements of the import market, minimizing cases of shipments that do not meet regulations.
At the same time, it also limits durian exporting enterprises from violating regulations, avoiding affecting the reputation of Vietnamese durian when exporting to the Chinese market, as well as other countries.
According to the Plant Protection Department, by the end of January 2025, the country will have 9 centers and laboratories for testing yellow O for Vietnamese durian (located in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho and Ca Mau) recognized by China.
The authorities are also proposing that China consider recognizing additional centers that meet the standards for O-gold testing to speed up testing when durian enters its peak harvest season in the coming time. In recent days, shipments that meet the standards for O-gold and cadmium have been brought to the northern border gates for export to the Chinese market.
Along with the immediate solution, in the long term, strictly controlling the area, avoiding the boom in durian cultivation; at the same time, strengthening the connection from production to consumption; investing in improving quality... are necessary issues for the sustainable development of the durian industry.
Ms. Bui Thi Cham, Director of Truong Tho 2A Orchard Cooperative (Truong Long Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City), said: "Comparisons in recent years show that durian trees are many times more profitable than other crops. However, the cooperative recommends that members do not rush to expand the area because of the risks of market, output, high investment capital, etc.
Currently, the cooperative is strengthening cooperation with export purchasing units; building growing area codes and traceability; applying technical advances to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase competitiveness...".
Tien Giang Provincial People's Committee said: "The whole province has more than 22,000 hectares of durian, exceeding the planning by 2030 by about 4,700 hectares; in some places, farmers grow spontaneously and fragmentedly because durian prices have been high recently; this entails many risks. In the future, Tien Giang will not encourage new planting but will focus on investing in improving quality, meeting the criteria of the Chinese market and recommending businesses to expand to other markets."
Durian exports hit record high but not sustainable
If in 2021 durian exports were only 178 million USD; by 2022 it increased to 421 million USD, then in 2023 the whole country's durian exports reached 2.3 billion USD.
In 2024, there will be a huge jump in the export of this product to 3.2 billion USD, a record high so far. The important reason for the above jump in Vietnamese durian is thanks to reaching an official export agreement to the Chinese market.
Despite such advantages, when looking at the whole picture, the durian industry has revealed worrying limitations. Due to the "hot" development in terms of area, production in many places is fragmented, small-scale, lacking investment in infrastructure, transportation, and technology; in some places, conditions are not suitable but farmers still grow durian, causing the quality to not be as expected...
Currently, ensuring export quality is the top priority to help Vietnamese durian stand firm in the world market, especially the Chinese market, due to fierce competition from other countries.
The Department of Crop Production is finalizing legal documents regulating the management of growing areas, packaging facilities and sanctions for violations; and developing a key science and technology program for durian trees.
The functional units will develop a program to monitor food safety and quality standards for exported durian; step up inspections and strictly handle cases of fraud and non-compliance with quarantine regulations of importing countries; increase quarantine at border gates for durian shipments before exporting to the Chinese market...
Source: https://danviet.vn/trong-sau-rieng-nhu-trong-cay-tien-ty-o-mien-tay-gia-quay-xe-dan-bat-ngo-nghe-thuong-lai-noi-1-cau-20250218204221849.htm
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