In the first ten months of the current year, Vietnam experienced an unprecedented surge in durian exports, reaching a historic high of US$3.3 billion. This represents a 10.4% increase year-on-year. Vietnam Customs data shows that durian exports continue to play a dominant role in the nation’s agricultural export revenue.
A staggering 94% of all durian exports, equivalent to $3.14 billion, were shipped to China, marking a 14% increase year-on-year.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, the General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, reported that Vietnamese durian exports have been experiencing robust growth despite stricter inspections by Chinese authorities for banned substances. This growth, he suggested, is attributed to the improved quality and competitive pricing of Vietnamese durians.
On average, the export price for a ton of durian was $3,696, approximately 15% less than the price for Thai durians. This makes Vietnam the second largest durian exporter to China, following Thailand.
In response to China’s tighter quality standards, many Vietnamese exporters have made considerable investments in cold storage and packaging facilities and have also taken steps to establish their own brands.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has responded by implementing a quality control process specifically for durian.
Apart from China, other markets have also demonstrated strong growth in their imports of Vietnamese durians. Hong Kong, for instance, increased its imports by nearly 89%, equating to over $45 million. Other countries including Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Japan, and Canada have also notably increased their purchases of this fruit.
Despite the remarkable figures, analysts have cautioned Vietnam against becoming too dependent on one single product like durian, which currently constitutes over half of its fruit and vegetable exports.
In order to maintain growth and solidify its position in major markets, experts suggest that the nation’s agricultural sector diversify its products, enhance cold-chain systems, and implement stricter quarantine and storage quality standards.
Nguyen remains optimistic about the future of durian exports, projecting that, given current growth trends and positive indications, they could reach a record-breaking $4 billion this year.
What was the value of Vietnam’s durian exports in the first ten months of this year?
The value of Vietnam’s durian exports in the first ten months of this year was a historic US$3.3 billion.
Who is the primary purchaser of Vietnamese durian?
China is the primary purchaser of Vietnamese durian, accounting for 94% of all exports.
What are analysts’ recommendations to sustain the growth of Vietnam’s agricultural sector?
Analysts recommend that the agricultural sector diversify its products, improve its cold-chain systems, and enforce stricter quarantine and storage quality standards to sustain growth.
