While Thai durians are slowing down, durians have recorded a spectacular breakthrough in terms of turnover and market share in the Chinese market.

Durian exports increase

The Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) cited statistics from the Chinese Customs Administration, saying that in 2024, China imported 1.56 million tons of durian, worth nearly 7 billion USD, up 9.4% in volume and 4.0% in value compared to 2023.

In 2024, the average import price of durian into China reached 4,957 USD/ton, down 4.9% compared to 2023. Of which, the average import price of durian to China from Vietnam and the Philippines decreased, but the average import price from Thailand increased.

Regarding the supply structure, in 2024, China imported 809.88 thousand tons of durian from Thailand, worth over 4 billion USD, down 12.8% in volume and 12.1% in value compared to 2023.

In contrast, China increased its durian imports from Vietnam in 2024, up 49.4% in volume and 37.5% in value compared to 2023, reaching 736.72 thousand tons, worth 2.94 billion USD.

According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the largest contributor to the overall growth rate of the entire Vietnamese fruit and vegetable industry in 2024 was durian, accounting for 44.94% of the total value, reaching 3.21 billion USD, up 43.2% compared to 2023.

Fruit and vegetable exports increase

In addition, the export value of many other types of fruits and vegetables increased in 2024 compared to 2023, including: coconut (up 61.1%); banana (up 20%); mango (up 46.8%); jackfruit (up 22.2%); pistachios (up 76.9%); almonds (up 64.7%); chili (up 15.1%)... On the contrary, the export value of dragon fruit and passion fruit decreased by 15.1% and 22.9% respectively.

According to the latest data from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) in January 2025, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports reached 416 million USD, down 11.3% compared to the previous month (December 2024 reached 529 million USD) and down 5.2% compared to the same period in 2024 (January 2024 reached 490 million USD).

The reason for the decline in fruit and vegetable exports is that many countries have tightened inspections on the quality of fruits imported from Vietnam. Notably, after discovering that Thai durian contained the carcinogenic substance yellow O, China immediately tightened its control, causing this Vietnamese product to also be affected, forcing some businesses to stop exporting.

However, Vietnamese authorities have also quickly worked with Chinese authorities to resume durian exports. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced a list of 9 testing laboratories recognized by Vietnam and China as qualified to issue certificates. This is the basis for Vietnamese durian to continue to penetrate this "billion-people" market.

Mr. Hoang Khanh Duy - Deputy Head of the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone - said that the export of agricultural products, including durian, to China is going smoothly. Accordingly, from February 1 to 3, a total of 26 trucks carrying durian cleared customs through the province's two main border gates, including 14 trucks through Huu Nghi border gate and 12 trucks through Tan Thanh border gate, with a volume of hundreds of tons. These were all pre-registered shipments.

In 2024, China will continue to be the world's largest durian consumer market (about 91%). In particular, with the formula "durian combined with everything", this delicious and fatty cake is growing bigger and bigger, expected to soon reach the 10 billion USD mark.

Source: Cong Thuong Newspaper