Vietnamese Durian Prices Plunge Despite Supply Shortages

The price of grade A Monthong durians in Vietnamese warehouses has fallen to just 144,000 Vietnamese dong ($5.67) per kilogram, compared with 200,000 dong ($7.88) per kilogram back in November. The price at source is even lower at only 100,000 dong ($3.94) per kilogram.

Despite the current scarcity of Vietnamese durians, off-season prices have plummeted in the country’s western provinces, placing significant pressure on farmers. In Tien Giang province, traders are buying durians for just 100,000 dong ($3.94) per kilogram, 30% less than in November. Meanwhile, wholesale prices for Monthong durians have decreased from 180,000–200,000 dong ($7.09–7.88) per kilogram to 140,000–144,000 dong ($5.51–5.67) per kilogram, while Ri6 durians are selling for only 132,000 dong ($5.20) per kilogram.

Tien Giang province has over 9,300 hectares of durian trees, with around 6,000 hectares currently bearing fruit. However, only 40% of these (approximately 2,400 hectares) produce fruit during the off-season, and of these, only 30% (approximately 800 hectares) produce high-quality fruit. Owing to extreme weather conditions, most other trees have failed to bloom or bear fruit. The off-season durian supply in Tien Giang has decreased by 30% compared with last year, yet durian prices have fallen significantly.

The sharp decline in prices appears to be linked to the Thai and Chinese markets. Thanh, a trader in Tien Giang province, noted that Thai durians remained on the market through late November, intensifying the price pressure on Vietnamese durians. Additionally, the rejection of some Vietnamese durian shipments due to cadmium contamination issues has impacted the reputation of Vietnamese durians and reduced their competitiveness.

Chinese importers have further driven down prices, causing a sharp decline in the value of durians from Vietnamese orchards and warehouses. Manh Khuong, a procurement coordinator in the city of Can Tho, claimed that several Chinese warehouses had coordinated to lower prices by 20,000–30,000 dong ($0.79–1.18) per kilogram in a single day. In response, many farmers have delayed harvesting in the hope that prices will recover, which has further tightened the available supply on the market. Many Vietnamese warehouses now face a shortage of Monthong durians, and although Ri6 durians are still available, buyers face significant hurdles in the purchasing process.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, expressed concern that Vietnam is unlikely to meet its $3.5 billion durian export target this year, with the expected figure now hovering around $3.2 billion.

Image: Unsplash

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.