China reduces imports of Thai durian, and increases purchases of Vietnamese durian

In the first 4 months of the year, China increased its purchases of durians from Vietnam by more than 91%, while reducing purchases from Thailand by up to 55%.

Statistics have just been announced by China Customs. Accordingly, in the first 4 months of this year, this country imported 202,500 tons of fresh durian fruit, worth USD 1.09 billion, down over 32% compared to the same period last year.

Of which, goods from Thailand reached 121,400 tons, worth USD 717 million, down 55% over the same period. Accordingly, the proportion of imports from Thailand is 60% of China's total imports, a decrease of 26.7 percentage points.

In contrast, goods from Vietnam and the Philippines increased. In the first four months of the year, China imported 79,300 tons of durian from Vietnam, worth nearly USD 370 million, up 91% over the same period last year. Thanks to that, Vietnamese durian accounts for 39.2% of the total amount of fresh durian imported by China, an increase of 25.9 percentage points over the same period in 2023.

Philippine durian accounts for a small proportion of the Chinese market, but this country's export turnover in the first 4 months increased 6 times over the same period.

Among the three countries exporting fresh durian to China, Vietnam and the Philippines have the most competitive and cheapest prices. Compared to China's average imported fresh durian price of USD 5,395 per ton, Vietnamese products are only USD 4,662, down 5% over the same period. Meanwhile, Thai goods' prices increased by 14% over the same period, more than USD 5,900 per ton - the highest among the three countries and higher than the average price in this market.

A durian export enterprise with a market share in the top 5 rating Vietnamese products is increasingly dominating the Chinese market. In addition to the advantage of good prices, supply from Vietnam is also abundant. In addition, Vietnamese products are harvested all year round, the shipping cost of Vietnamese durian is the lowest, and the shipping time is the fastest in the region.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that the price of Vietnamese durian is suitable for the spending budget of Chinese people. Vietnam has entered the main season, so the quality of durian is superior to that of off-season goods.

In Thailand, EL Nino, drought has seriously affected the country's durian trees. The hot sun causes unpicked durians to split on the tree. Temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius have accelerated the ripening process, causing the quality of this country's durians to decrease. Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is implementing solutions to support farmers in the east of the country as prolonged drought threatens to ruin the durian crop.

"This is an opportunity for Vietnam to dominate the market. In May and June, Vietnam's durian exports will achieve many positive results," Mr. Nguyen added.

This year, the durian growing area nationwide is 150,000 hectares, with an expected output of 1.5 million tons. Gardeners in the Southeast and Mekong Delta are harvesting and selling for VND 40,000 - VND 70,000 per kg (depending on type). This price is down by half compared to earlier this year's peak, but farmers still make high profits.

In 2023, Vietnam exported more than 595,000 tons of durian to the Chinese market with a value of more than USD 2.1 billion.

Vietnamese durian has also affirmed product quality. Although it has only been exported since September 2022, it has already occupied 32% of the market share in the Chinese market and is second only to Thailand (accounting for 68%).In the first 4 months of the year of 2024, China spent over $ 432 million to buy Vietnamese durians, a 168% increase compared to the same period last year.

Vietnamese durian has the advantage of abundant output, harvested all year round, especially off-season durian, which does not compete with Thai durian.

In addition, an advantage of durian when exported to China is faster shipping time, so the price is competitive.

After less than two years of entering, these factors helped Vietnamese durian make great strides in the Chinese market.