Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports hit US$8.56 billion in 2025, up nearly 20% from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Growth was driven mainly by key fruits, led by durian, whose export value came in at close to US$4 billion.

Data from China Customs show that fresh durian remained one of China’s largest fresh fruit imports during the period, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for almost the entire market.

Thailand remains the largest supplier, but its share has edged lower from a year earlier. By contrast, imports from Vietnam have grown faster, lifting Vietnam’s share of China’s total fresh durian imports to nearly the same level as Thailand’s.

China also continues to be Vietnam’s largest export market for fresh durian, making up more than 90% of the sector’s total export value.

Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Head of the Plant Protection and Cultivation Department, said Vietnam’s advantages include proximity to China, ease of cross-border transport by road, and year-round supply. Harvests in the Central Highlands also start later than in Thailand, allowing Vietnamese shipments to rise when Thai supply tapers off.

Looking ahead to 2026, Hieu said durian is expected to remain Vietnam’s leading export fruit, but it is still too early to say whether Vietnam can overtake Thailand on a sustained basis. Constraints such as fragmented production, uneven quality, inadequate controls over agricultural inputs and weak production linkages remain key bottlenecks.

Durian exports in 2026 are also expected to face challenges linked to residue controls and technical warnings from the Chinese side.

Hieu said growers and exporters need to tighten controls from the cultivation stage to protect the reputation of Vietnamese durian and reduce the risk of tougher measures by China Customs.

Output is forecast to continue rising in 2026. Vietnam currently has about 1,200 registered growing areas and 180 packing facilities eligible to export durian to China. If quality is maintained and regulatory requirements are met, durian export value is likely to exceed US$4 billion.

Durian drives export recovery as prices climb

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports are showing signs of reversal after months of a steep decline, with durian continuing to lead the resurgence amid strong demand from China.