After a period of testing congestion and sharply declining purchase prices, Vietnam’s durian market is beginning to show signs of recovery as customs clearance activities gradually resume. However, industry experts believe the fundamental challenge remains the need to control quality at the growing area level, standardize production practices, and reorganize supply chain linkages to ensure the long-term sustainability of this billion-dollar export sector amid intensifying international competition.

From growing area control to building sustainable agriculture

Facing pressure from cadmium residue concerns, testing bottlenecks, and the risk of losing export markets, Vietnam’s durian industry is entering a period of significant restructuring.

Many localities in the Mekong Delta are shifting their focus from expanding cultivation area toward improving product quality, strengthening traceability transparency, and building more stable production linkages.

According to experts, this is now the only viable path if Vietnam wishes to maintain its position in the billion-dollar export durian sector.

In Dong Thap Province, positive initial signals have emerged as testing and export activities gradually resume.

Mr. Vo Tan Loi, Chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, stated that Grade A durian is currently being purchased at over VND 50,000 per kilogram, while Grade B prices range from VND 35,000 to VND 45,000 per kilogram.

These price levels are allowing many orchard owners to return to profitability after a prolonged period of severe market instability.

Mr. Le Ha Luan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province, said the locality is tightening management of growing area codes, publicizing cultivation procedures, and enhancing product traceability capabilities.

He emphasized that modern agriculture can no longer rely on spontaneous production but must operate within a unified, transparent, and organized system.

In Vinh Long Province, efforts to standardize growing areas are also being accelerated.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, by 2025 the province will have 8,140 hectares of durian cultivation, of which 4,122 hectares are commercially productive, with total output reaching nearly 62,217.3 tonnes.

The locality currently has 72 durian growing area codes approved for export to China, covering 1,611.36 hectares, including 58 active codes and 14 codes that have been temporarily suspended or revoked.

In addition, Vinh Long has 14 packing facility codes and 22 domestic growing area codes covering 339 hectares.

The province also has 265.55 hectares of durian certified under VietGAP standards, along with 12 cooperatives and 44 production groups participating in the development of export-oriented growing areas.

Local authorities noted that production areas are gradually transitioning toward cleaner and safer production models, strengthening supply chain linkages, and promoting deep processing to meet international market requirements.

Removing export bottlenecks

As durian exports continue to face challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued Official Dispatch No. 4423 on May 6, 2026, requiring localities to implement coordinated emergency measures to restore export activities.

According to the Ministry, shortcomings in testing procedures, traceability systems, and compliance with import standards are directly affecting product consumption, farmers’ incomes, and export enterprise operations.

The Ministry has instructed local authorities to strengthen management of growing area codes and packing facilities while proactively working with businesses and cooperatives to support product sales and resolve difficulties related to harvesting, pre-processing, and goods circulation.

At the same time, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection is actively negotiating with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to approve additional testing laboratories and reinstate suspended facilities.

As of May 11, 18 out of 30 cadmium testing laboratories and 19 out of 30 testing laboratories for auramine O had resumed operations across key producing regions.

According to technical authorities, rapid testing at orchards prior to harvest is considered a critical solution to reduce the risk of shipment rejection and lower export costs for businesses.

Growth figures cannot mask quality risks

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s durian exports reached approximately USD 1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, representing growth of nearly 128% compared to the same period last year.

However, experts warn against falling into what they describe as a “growth illusion” if product quality is not sustainably controlled.

Several agricultural officials in the Mekong Delta have noted that existing weaknesses are not limited to export procedures but extend throughout the entire production and supply chain, including fertilizers, chemicals, water sources, testing systems, and logistics infrastructure.

Speaking with the Government Electronic Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, stressed the need for coordinated solutions spanning management and production to remove bottlenecks facing this billion-dollar export industry.

According to Mr. Binh, ministries, local authorities, and the scientific community must support farmers and businesses in addressing heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils, encourage the use of low-cadmium fertilizers, and promote safer cultivation practices.

At the same time, investment in processing infrastructure, cold storage, testing facilities, and simplified procedures for issuing growing area and packing facility codes must be accelerated.

For durian growers, Mr. Binh emphasized the need to align production with market signals, strictly comply with technical procedures, ensure full traceability, and avoid using unauthorized chemicals or improper application rates.

For businesses, stronger linkages with certified growing areas and the development of sustainable production-consumption chains are essential to improving competitiveness and minimizing export risks.

Industry experts also highlighted intensifying competition between Vietnamese durian and exports from other producing countries.

According to specialists, the most fundamental solution lies in strengthening quality control directly at the growing area level, standardizing fertilizer and chemical usage, and ensuring complete transparency throughout the traceability chain.

Only by resolving food safety challenges at their source can Vietnam’s durian sector maintain sustainable long-term growth.

Durian prices recover as exports regain momentum

In recent days, the market has begun to show positive signs as testing efficiency and customs clearance have improved significantly.

Mr. Vo Tan Loi stated that while previously only five to ten durian trucks were tested daily for export, the number has now increased to between 30 and 50 trucks per day.

Faster result turnaround times are enabling businesses to accelerate shipments to China.

Meanwhile, durian supply in the Mekong Delta has declined significantly as the harvest season nears its end, while export purchasing demand has risen, creating upward pressure on prices.

In Ngu Hiep Commune, Dong Thap Province, Mr. Duong Van Day, a farmer cultivating two hectares of Ri6 durian, said his family recently sold Grade A durian at VND 50,000 per kilogram and Grade B fruit at around VND 30,000 per kilogram.

Currently, 95% of agricultural land in Ngu Hiep Commune — equivalent to 2,963 out of 3,200 hectares — is dedicated to durian cultivation.

Monthong durian for export is now selling at VND 75,000–80,000 per kilogram for Grade A fruit, while Ri6 prices range from VND 35,000–40,000 per kilogram.

Approximately 20% of the commune’s durian crop remains to be harvested within the next 15 days.

According to many growers, the recent testing crisis has made farmers far more attentive to safe production practices and traceability requirements.

Durian currently accounts for 45% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable export turnover.

Given this significant share, reorganizing the durian value chain is not only an immediate necessity but also a critical test of Vietnam’s ability to manage modern agricultural development.

Source: Bao Chinh Phu