Two-month durian exports reach same level as entirety of 2022

Vietnamese durian exports accounted for 31.8% of China’s total import turnover of this product, according to the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The country has currently more than 112,000 ha of durian under cultivation, accounting for 9% of its total fruit tree area, with a yearly estimated output standing at 863,000 tonnes. The main importers of this fruit include China, Thailand, Japan, and the United States.

The signed protocol on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnamese durian exported to the Chinese market has created an opportunity for the nation to develop its durian industry in a modern, quality, safe, and sustainable manner, the agency said.

According to the department, the successful entry of frozen durian products into the Chinese market will serve to create an important step forward for the Vietnamese durian industry. Indeed, the nation’s durian industry is likely to surpass Thailand and dominate the Chinese market if Vietnamese growers focus on renovating cultivation techniques and improving the quality of products, it added.

The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has so far approved 708 farming areas and 168 packaging facility codes for Vietnamese durian products.

The department has therefore asked relevant localities and agencies to intensify inspection and supervision over growing areas and packaging facilities in a bid to strictly control the overall quality of exported agricultural products, whilst timely detecting and promptly handling related violations and cases of fraud.

It also incentivizes co-operation between farmers and businesses on the principle of equality and win-win collaboration in the development of agricultural value chains with close linkages between production, processing, and consumption.

The country’s major durian-growing areas include the Central Highlands with more than 52,000 ha, which accounts for about 47% of the total area, the Mekong Delta region with 33,000 ha (about 30%), and the Southeast region with 21,000 ha (about 19%).

Last year witnessed the nation export 595,000 tonnes of durian to China, marking up 98.6% of the total durian export volume. During the two-month period, the country exported more than 41,000 tonnes.

China is widely viewed as the major export market for Vietnamese durian, accounting for more than 90% of the country's total exports. Vietnamese durian is gradually penetrating new markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the US, and the EU.