China remains the primary market, accounting for more than 94% of Vietnam’s durian exports, as demand for the tropical fruit continues to grow.

On the domestic market, durian prices have rebounded sharply following disruptions in inspection procedures during September–October 2025. Premium Monthong durians now sell for VND110,000–125,000/kg, up 30–50% from the previous month, while Ri6 varieties reach VND67,000–70,000/kg. Prices for lower grades have also increased, signaling a return of stable demand.

“The strong overseas demand has helped durian remain a sought-after product despite recent inspection challenges,” said Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of Vinafruit, highlighting the sector’s adaptability to technical and logistics disruptions.

Vinafruit noted that durian supply is currently tight due to the off-season, a situation expected to persist until March 2026. Flooding in the Mekong Delta has further reduced output, and off-season production costs are 10–15% higher than during the main harvest. Last year’s low prices also discouraged some farmers from forcing off-season flowering, lowering this year’s yield.

Despite a feasible US$3.5 billion export target for 2025, the sector faces challenges in quality control. Currently, certification relies heavily on samples submitted by exporters, leaving room for product mixing. Vinafruit recommends a four-pronged approach, including transparent digital logging by farmers, self-monitoring of input sources by businesses, unannounced inspections and strengthened ethics by certifiers, and a unified government database of farm and packaging codes with regular and random checks.

Durian exports have contributed to a total fruit export value exceeding US$7.8 billion, up 18% year on year, while imports reached US$$2.44 billion, up 15%, resulting in a trade surplus of nearly US$5.4 billion for the sector.

Looking ahead, Vinafruit expects total fruit export revenue to exceed US$9 billion and potentially reach US$10 billion, driven by emerging products such as fresh jackfruit, pomelo, mango, passion fruit, and frozen durian using rapid-freeze technology for markets in the EU, US, and Japan.

Free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) provide a strategic advantage by offering zero tariffs, but exporters must comply with origin rules and technical standards to fully benefit, noted the Vinafruit leader.

Durian exports stabilize after testing disruption

VOV.VN - After a brief disruption caused by the temporary suspension of several testing laboratories, durian testing and export activities across the country have largely returned to normal, ensuring smooth operations for exporters and farmers.