Vietnamese Durian Prices Slump on Disrupted China Exports

According to Vietnamese media reports, the recent requirement for durian shipments to China to be tested for auramine O has caused off-season durian prices in Vietnam’s western provinces to drop by over 50% compared with the same period of last year, reaching as low as tens of thousands of Vietnamese dong per kilogram. Grade A and grade B Monthong durians are currently priced at approximately 100,000 dong ($3.97) and 80,000 dong ($3.18) per kilogram, while grade A and grade B Ri6 durians are selling for 63,000 dong ($2.50) and 47,000 dong ($1.87) per kilogram, respectively.

Khuong, the owner of a durian procurement company in western Vietnam, noted that the new inspection regulations introduced by China Customs have significantly impacted Vietnam’s durian exports, causing customs clearance delays for many shipments. Numerous buyers who had previously placed substantial deposits have chosen to forfeit them owing to the sharp decline in export prices.

Thanh, a durian grower in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, noted that in previous years buyers would typically pay deposits to secure orders ahead of Chinese New Year. However, as prices continue to decline, buyers have reportedly ceased this practice. His orchard has already sold one-third of its crop, and he is waiting for a price rebound before harvesting the remainder.

Tien Giang province has approximately 9,300 hectares of durian cultivation, including 6,000 hectares of fruit-bearing trees. However, only 40% (2,400 hectares) of these are off-season crops, and just 30% of them are of high quality. Extreme weather has also caused issues with flowering and fruit maturation. In addition to Tien Giang, the city of Can Tho and Vinh Long province in the Mekong Delta are also in their off-season for durians. Compared with last year, output from these regions is expected to rise significantly. If exports recover as they did last year, February sales are projected to see growth.

Data released by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association indicate that the country’s fruit and vegetable export revenue in January totaled approximately $417 million, marking a 5.2% decrease compared with the same period of last year. The primary cause of this decline is the recent disruption of durian exports to China.

Several export companies have reported suspending durian exports to China since January. Although nine Vietnamese laboratories have now been approved by Chinese authorities to conduct auramine O testing, this number remains insufficient. Vietnam must therefore expand its testing capacity to avoid bottlenecks during the upcoming peak durian season.

Image: Pixabay

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