Durian exports from Vietnam improved over the previous year

The first few months of 2023 have seen a sharp increase in Vietnam's exports of durian. Accordingly, the General Department of Customs reported that the value of durian exports reached 332 million USD in May 2023, accounting for over half of the month's vegetable and fruit exports, which is valued at 656 million USD. This figure is more than ten times higher compared to that of April and the highest monthly export value ever recorded.

During the first 5 months of 2023, the value of Vietnam's durian exports reached 503 million USD, at least 18 times higher compared to the value of 27.6 million USD recorded in the first five months of 2022. Most notably, the export of Vietnamese durian to China is valued at 477 million USD, accounting for 95% of the total export value of this fruit.

Due to this considerable increase in exports, the first five months of 2023 saw more durians exported than the entire year of 2022. As a result, durian export will set a new record in turnover, because 421 million USD in 2022 was the highest export value ever recorded within one year. Furthermore, durian accounts for more than a quarter of Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable export value during the first few months of the year at 2 billion USD.

Substantial demand from the Chinese market is the key reason for the rapid growth in Vietnam's durian exports. On the other hand, there has also been a noticeable rise in Thailand's durian exports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, this country exported 477,000 tons of durians to the Chinese market in the first five months of 2023. Accordingly, the total export value is approximately 62.4 billion baht or 1.75 billion USD. This is the highest export value ever recorded for Thailand's durian exports during the first five months of each year.

The price of durian in Thailand is at an all-time high thanks to the impressive export value. A durian in eastern Thailand is priced at an average of 130 baht per kilogram, which is equivalent to 3.73 USD per kilogram. Whereas the price of Monthong and Phuang Mani durians can reach 250 baht per kilogram or 7.18 USD per kilogram, the price of Kradumtong durians can reach upwards of 300 baht per kilogram or 8.61 USD per kilogram.

According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), demand for durian consumption in the Chinese market is rapidly climbing every year. At the current rate, China's demand for durian is expected to reach over 2 million tons per year. This rising demand can be an excellent opportunity for Vietnamese durian farmers. Despite the fact that Thailand's shipping time to China has been shortened thanks to the recently opened Thailand-Laos-China railways, it still takes shorter and costs less to ship durian from Vietnam to China. On the other hand, Vietnamese durian is available all year round whereas Thai durian is only available during certain seasons.

According to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province's Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, there are currently 1,149.8 hectares of durian production area in the province, distributed mainly in the districts of Chau Duc, Phu My, Dat Do and Xuyen Moc. The province produces roughly 5,000 tons of durian annually, according to estimates.

There are five durian production areas with a total area of 124.2 hectares in the two communes of Xa Bang and Lang Lon, Chau Duc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. These areas have been granted  durian production unit codes for official export to the Chinese market.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau province's Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection will coordinate with districts to organize training courses, monitor pesticide residues, control harmful organisms to meet the requirements posed by the importing country before each annual harvest. Furthermore, the Sub-Department will instruct durian production areas to actively control pests; keep electronic records, etc. in order to maintain their issued production unit code and ensure that the products are uniform in quality and design. Additionally, the Sub-Department will closely monitor and manage harmful organisms of great concern to the Chinese importers.