Durian has become the 'king' of fruits in Vietnam

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first five months of this year, durian was the fruit with the largest export value and also the largest export commodity in the group of vegetables and fruits. To be more specific, the export value of durian accounted for 26% of the total fruit and vegetable export value for five months, while that of dragon fruit only accounted for 15%, followed by banana (9%), mango (7%), jackfruit (6%), passion fruit (5%), coconut (5%), chili (3%), etc.

Thus, durian has officially surpassed dragon fruit to become the No. 1 export fruit of Vietnam. This was achieved because durian exports continuously grew very strongly in the first months of this year, while dragon fruit exports fell sharply. By the end of April, although dragon fruit was still the export fruit with the largest turnover, its turnover had decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year, while that of durian had increased by 573%. And by the end of May, durian had surpassed dragon fruit to become the "king" of fruits in Vietnam.

With an export value of USD 503 million in the first five months of the year (an increase of more than 18 times compared to the same period last year), Vietnam's durian exports this year will surely surpass the mark of USD 1 billion for the first time. Even if the issuance of durian growing area codes and durian packing facility codes is accelerated in the coming months, Vietnamese durian export turnover for the whole year will be much higher when China’s demand for importing durian is very large, especially in the context of the durian case in Hainan Island (China), which has caused great disappointment.

By the end of May 2023, the Chinese side had approved 293 growing area codes and 115 durian packing facility codes for Vietnam. However, currently, the area granted a growing area code only accounts for 14% of the total durian area in the country.

The Plant Protection Department has sent to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) a list of approximately 600 growing area codes and 60 durian packing facility codes for online inspection in the coming time. Thus, there are still a fairly large number of durian growing areas and packing facilities that need to be issued a code to export to China. If all of the above growing area codes are accepted by China, the area of durian with growing area codes will increase by 33–35%.

In order to accelerate the issuance of durian growing area codes and packing facility codes, many localities and businesses are promoting linkages between exporters and durian farmers.

For example, in Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai province, a locality with about 2,000 ha of durian, there is a linkage between Thuan Huong Production Trading Co., Ltd. and many cooperatives. Mr. Liu Tac Sang, Director of Thuan Huong Production Trading Co., Ltd., said that, currently, in order to export durian and agricultural products, it cannot help having the growing area code and packing facility code. Therefore, the company is cooperating with local authorities and creating linkages with cooperatives in Dinh Quan district to build growing areas with export codes.

According to Mr. Vo Van Tung, Director of Hamlet 7-Thanh Son Agricultural Service Cooperative (Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai province), thanks to its linkage with Thuan Huong Company, the cooperative has been issued a code for durian growing area with an area of 85 ha, giving the cooperative's durian fruit the opportunity to come to foreign markets.

Mr. Ngo Tan Tai, Vice Chairman of Dinh Quan District People's Committee, Dong Nai Province, assessed that linkage between farmers and businesses will promote the issuance of growing area codes faster. The reason is that in the linkage model, farmers only focus on production, while businesses are in charge of ensuring product consumption and subscribe to the unit granted the planting area code and packing facility code. State management agencies will act as mediators, connecting farmers and businesses so that both can benefit.