A kilogram of Vietnam-grown Musang King now costs VND1.5-1.8 million ($64-$76), 20% higher than imports of the same varietal.
A kilogram of husked local Vietnamese Musang King ranges from VND500,000-850,000 per kilogram, equivalent to VND1.5-1.8 million per kilogram (husk removed). The price has increased 10% over a year ago.
Malaysia’s Musang King is considered the “best durian in the world” and is currently grown by Vietnamese farmers in the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.
The fruit regularly sells out at local markets, and buyers must wait two weeks and a month to receive their stocks.
Oanh, a durian connoisseur in Ho Chi Minh City, said Musang King durian flesh is fragrant, supple and fat. “I have to pay deposits a month in advance to receive the goods.”
A fruit shop in Hanoi also reported that it had just sold 10 unhusked Musang Kings for VND700,000 per kg (2-4 kg per fruit).
“Since it is a fallen fruit, and is shipped by air, the quality is high. No matter how many we have, customers buy them all,” the store manager said.
Explaining the high price of Vietnam-grown Musang King durian, Can Tho wholesaler Dang Manh Khuong said that durian is currently out of season, so low supplies have led to increased demand.
“I can only find a few dozen Musang Kings to buy a day, sometimes 2-3 quintals at most,” he said.
Hoa, who owns about 50 Musang King trees in Can Tho, said that her garden only has a few trees that bear fruit early, so most of her crop will not be harvested until August.
Vietnamese farmers here can grow the fruit in the offseason, while other regional producers cannot.
In addition to scarce supply, according to traders, the fresh Vietnam-grown varietal has higher transportation costs, and is more difficult to preserve than frozen imported goods, so the price is higher.
“In July-August, when this fruit is in full season, and output is high, the price will cool down,” Khuong predicted.
Musang King durian is oval, not too large, and weighs 2-4 kg. The husk is dark green and has huge spikes. A groove in the middle of the peduncle and stem characterizes the species.