Vietnam's durian exports can reach 1.5 billion USD in 2023

According to the General Department of Customs of Vietnam, durian export in the first six months of 2023 reached 876 million USD, which is more than double the 2022's export turnover of 421 million USD. Durian is currently the commodity with the highest export value in Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry. Accordingly, it accounts for 32% of the total fruit and vegetable export value of 2.7 billion USD in the first half of 2023.

China, the world's largest consumption market for durian, is steadily raising its imports of durian. Most notably, China imported over 800,000 tons of durian in 2021, with plans to import at least 1 million tons of durian by the end of 2023.

Thanks to a significant demand for durian in China, the value of Vietnam's durian exports is anticipated to reach the 1 billion USD mark for the first time in 2023. According to several traders in the fruit and vegetable industry, durian exports may even reach 1.2 to 1.5 billion USD by the end of 2023.

In addition to the high demand from the Chinese market, the increased output of durian production in Vietnam will also help its export value reach 1 billion USD. According to Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, Vietnam had a total of 37,000 hectares dedicated to durian production in 2017. This figure has subsequently rose to nearly 110,000 hectares in 2023.

With over 54,000 hectares harvested, Vietnam's durian yield is estimated to reach approximately 1 million tons by the end of 2023, which is an incresae of 15.9% compared to that of 2022. Accordingly, the durian yield is projected to reach 350,000 tons in the third quarter, and 260,000 tons in the fourth quarter. The output of Vietnam's durian production will increase even further when the newly cultivated durian production areas enter the harvest season within the next few years.

With considerable output and premium quality, many Vietnamese provinces and cities with large durian production areas are actively promoting export activities. According to Mr. Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, the province currently has more than 11,000 hectares of durian, which makes the province with the largest durian production area in Southeastern Vietnam and the fourth largest in the entire country. So far, Dong Nai province has acquired 11 production unit codes for more than 820 hectares of durian production areas and six durian packaging facilities. Additionally, Dong Nai province is expected to export 20,000 tons of durian to the Chinese market by the end of 2023.

Vietnam's durian exports will continue to benefit from incredible potentials within the next few years as demand continues to increase globally. According to Mordor Intelligence's "Durian market size & share,  Analysis - Growth trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)", the global durian market size reached 9 billion USD in 2023 and progress towards 14 billion USD by 2028.

The global durian market is forecast to experience tremendous growth over the next five years due to increased consumer demand around the world. China will most likely remain as the world's main market for durian during the next five years. On the other hand, the popularity of durian grows steadily around the world as consumers are increasingly educated on its health benefits, which include its ability to boost the immune system, lower blood sugar, reduce cancer risk, and fighte oxidation and aging. As a result, this special fruit has made an appearance in various markets in the Europe, Arab countries, the United States and so on.

Additionally, the use of durian as a special flavoring agent is increasingly common in the food industry. Many consumers are willing to experiment with different foods thanks the introduction of exotic-flavoured products, including durian-flavored foods such as durian candy, durian ice cream, etc. All these factors will contribute to significantly boosting the demand for durian between 2023 and 2028.

Vietnam currently only has over 300 production unit codes and 100 packaging facility codes for durian, which are relatively low figures compared to the large area of durian prodution in Vietnam.

Vietnam has excelled in diversifying durian products as well as producing and exporting fresh durian to international markets. However, Vietnamese businesses must utilize frozen durian and work towards deeply processed products in order to expand their target markets domestically and globally.