The Philippines is cultivating a new durian variety and expanding exports to sharpen its competitiveness against Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia in the Chinese market while reaching out to other destinations.

The Agency of Foreign Trade (Ministry of Industry and Trade), citing information from the Durian Exporters Association of the Philippines, reported that the country currently maintains approximately 15,000 hectares of durian orchards, with output projected to reach 150,000 metric tons in the 2026–2027 crop year. Of this volume, roughly 40–50% is evaluated to possess export potential.

China currently serves as the principal durian export market for the Philippines, accounting for roughly 90% of its total outbound volume. Nevertheless, Philippine durians currently represent less than 1% of the market share in this country.

According to the Durian Exporters Association of the Philippines, Thailand dominates the Chinese durian market with its Monthong cultivar. Vietnam also exports Monthong to China, whereas Malaysia has successfully built brand equity around Musang King durians.

Confronting this competition, the Philippines plans to develop the Golden Puyat durian variety to elevate its competitive standing in the marketplace.

Beyond China, Philippine durian exporters are also targeting Singapore and Japan, while exploring market expansion into Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

However, geographic diversification also introduces logistical hurdles. The majority of Philippine durians are cultivated in Mindanao, leaving exporters to navigate complex overland and maritime transport routes connecting growing areas to international consumer centers.

In Vietnam, statistics from the Customs Department show that fruit and vegetable shipments to China reached USD 1.06 billion in August, jumping 56.7% compared to August 2025.

Cumulatively over the first eight months of the year, Vietnam’s produce exports to China surpassed USD 3.87 billion, up 38.8% year-on-year and capturing a 62.97% share of total sector turnover. In parallel, the Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry effectively tapped other prospective markets: the US climbed 17.9%, South Korea rose 9.7%, Japan advanced 5.8%, and the Netherlands surged 38.2%.

Vietnam’s produce exports are projected to continue expanding through the closing months of the year. In September and October, durian supplies from the Central Highlands enter their late-harvest phase. Securing a seasonal window as an active supplier of fresh durian into China during this period is expected to help monthly fruit and vegetable export turnover remain above the USD 1 billion mark.

Heading into November and December, consumption demand for year-end holiday and New Year festivities across China, South Korea, Japan, Europe, and the US typically surges. Once the main fresh durian season wraps up, core staples including dragon fruit, fresh coconuts, passion fruit, pomelos, and mangoes—alongside processed fruits such as dried, individually quick-frozen (IQF), and canned lines—will underpin export earnings.

Nonetheless, the Agency of Foreign Trade notes that the produce sector must remain vigilant as China and other importing destinations continue to tighten inspections on pesticide residues, production unit codes (PUCs), and packaging facility standards.

Source: Bao dien tu Dan tri