Dong Thap and Tay Ninh are entering their peak harvest season, yet a sharp decline in purchasing prices has left both farmers and traders struggling.

Durian prices plummet to the bottom

In the Dong Thap Muoi region (Tay Ninh Province), this year's harvest atmosphere is significantly more somber than last year. In just about two weeks, durian prices have dropped sharply by 30,000 - 45,000 VND/kg; currently, the Ri6 variety is priced at only 30,000 - 37,000 VND/kg, while Musang King fluctuates between 60,000 - 65,000 VND/kg.

Standing in his orchard during harvest, Mr. Le Quoc Cuong (Binh Thanh Commune, Tay Ninh) could not hide his anxiety: "Compared to a few months ago, prices have decreased tremendously. Investment costs are high, and at current prices, farmers will likely make little profit, if not face losses. Traders are buying slowly now, no longer as active as before. Previously, they would deposit and harvest immediately; now, they have to hesitate and deliberate."

Traders themselves are in a "dilemma." Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duy, a trader who frequently purchases durian in the Dong Thap Muoi area, admitted that prices need to rise slightly for orchard owners to cope. Because costs have surged so much, profit margins have vanished. From a purchasing perspective, Mr. Duy expressed concern that weather impacts have affected fruit quality, making sales even more difficult. If the fruit pulp is not of high quality, it cannot be bought at a high price.

According to the Tay Ninh agricultural sector, the province currently has more than 5,100 hectares of durian, with over 3,100 hectares bearing fruit—an increase of more than 14% over the same period. Increased output coupled with a consumption market that cannot keep pace is exerting immense pressure on purchasing prices.

In Dong Thap, the situation is even more dire as Ri6 durian prices have fallen to record lows. Many orchard owners reported that farmgate prices are only 25,000 - 35,000 VND/kg, less than half of what they were in the same period last year.

Ms. Tran Thi Xuan Dao's family (Hiep Duc Commune, Dong Thap) owns over 1 hectare of durian and is preparing to harvest about 2 tons of Ri6. However, her joy has been replaced by worry: "My orchard is two weeks away from harvest, but I hear prices have dropped to about 30,000 VND/kg. Since I started growing durian, I have never seen prices this low."

The gloomy atmosphere has also spread to cooperatives. Mr. Le Hong Hai, Deputy Director of My Loi A Agricultural Cooperative, confirmed that while it is the peak season, Ri6 prices are only slightly over 30,000 VND/kg, with some orchards falling below that mark. Every other year, prices are strong at this time, but this year they have hit rock bottom, causing great hardship for growers.

Bottlenecks in testing

Mr. Vo Tan Loi, Chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, stated that the primary cause is the closure of testing laboratories, which has prevented enterprises from exporting and forced them to stop purchasing. According to Mr. Loi, the testing phase is becoming a "bottleneck" for the entire industry. If laboratories close for even a few days, the entire system is paralyzed.

Traders also affirmed that the main reason for the deep price decline is the congestion in export testing. Mr. Huynh Thanh Nha, a trader in Dong Thap, expressed his frustration: "For the past 2-3 days, prices have plummeted because laboratories for cadmium and Auramine O testing have temporarily stopped accepting samples. Consequently, many warehouses have closed and stopped purchasing. Now, we must notify the warehouses before harvesting durian; otherwise, they won't accept it. If we can't sell, the only way is to pulp the fruit, which fetches even lower prices. Last year at this time, Ri6 was around 55,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, but currently, it's only half that. Both growers and traders are in difficulty this time, but farmers suffer the most."

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province reported that the entire province has over 32,000 hectares of durian with an output exceeding 556,000 tons. Consumption difficulties are partially due to a lack of testing facilities. Many units have stopped accepting samples due to overload or maintenance, leading to testing congestion. By mid-April 2026, the country had 13 cadmium testing facilities and 17 Auramine O testing facilities approved by China.

When proceeding with purchases, enterprises must schedule with laboratories 7 to 10 days in advance. Only when the laboratories confirm the schedule do the collection points begin purchasing. Furthermore, increasingly stringent requirements for traceability, durian growing area codes, and packaging standards have left many facilities unable to adapt in time. Dozens of packaging facilities have been temporarily suspended, further congesting the consumption chain.

When one link in the export chain fails, the entire system is affected, and farmers remain the ones bearing the greatest burden—carrying both production costs and the necessity of selling products at low prices.

Source: Bao Thanh Nien