According to data from Vietnam Customs, frozen durian exports in the first nine months of 2025 surged nearly 70% in volume and almost 130% in value compared to the same period last year.

Impressive Growth in Durian Exports

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export revenue reached over 6.2 billion USD by the end of September, up more than 10% year-on-year—a remarkable increase driven largely by durian exports, which saw exceptional growth in the third quarter.

Data from Vietnam Customs showed that frozen durian exports rose nearly 70% in volume and nearly 130% in value over the same period in 2024. In addition to China, strong growth was also recorded in several other markets such as Papua New Guinea (up 53%), the United States (up 28%), Canada (up 49%), and Japan (up 16%). The sharp rise in frozen durian exports, coupled with the recovery of fresh durian shipments—whose decline has narrowed significantly—helped the industry generate over 2 billion USD in export revenue.

Accelerating Durian Exports in the Fourth Quarter

September and October mark the peak harvest season for durian in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the country’s largest durian-producing region. At the same time, Chinese traders have ramped up imports to meet the growing demand for durian-based products, particularly for festive seasons at the end of the year. Meanwhile, supply from other Southeast Asian countries has been minimal—creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to accelerate exports in the fourth quarter, especially frozen durian.

In recent weeks, Vietnamese companies have continuously received large-scale frozen durian orders from China, signaling opportunities for higher revenues after months of limited operations.

Tran Thi Yen Thu, Director of Hong Sang Fruit Company, shared: “We strictly follow the procedures required by China, from product testing and selection to the freezing process, ensuring food safety standards for export. The market is currently full of potential.”

Vo Tan Loi, Director of Phuong Ngoc Import-Export Company, added: “We purchase durian directly from farms or traders, take samples for testing, and once approved, we ripen, separate, freeze, and export. This approach opens up a very promising market for Vietnamese durians in China.”

The frozen processing method also makes it easier to monitor for prohibited substances and technical standards required by importing countries, ensuring stable export performance in the long term.

Dang Thi Thuy Nga, Director of the Xuan Dinh Agricultural Services Cooperative in Dong Nai province, noted: “In terms of transportation, frozen durian is far more efficient. If we ship 20 tons, it’s a full 20 tons—unlike fresh fruit, which loses weight during transport.”

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VinaFruit), during the peak harvest season in September and October, durian exports could reach between 500 and 550 million USD per month.

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Targets 8 Billion USD in Exports

Beyond durian, other fruit exports have also performed strongly since the beginning of 2025. VinaFruit forecasts that fruit and vegetable exports will surpass 8 billion USD this year and could reach 10 billion USD in the near future.

In the fourth quarter, aside from main-season fruits such as star apple, Vietnam also benefits from year-round fruit supplies including pomelo, coconut, dragon fruit, longan, and mango. Toward the end of the year, purchase prices for key fruits are expected to rise by 3,000–6,000 VND/kg due to increasing demand.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, General Director of Vina T&T Group, said: “The first three quarters showed very positive results. In our traditional markets such as the U.S., Australia, and Canada, we’ve seen growth of over 20%. Currently, China accounts for about 12–13% of our exports, and we hope to accelerate in Q4 to achieve our 20% annual target.”

Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of VinaFruit, added: “The government has supported farmers and exporters in overcoming tariff and quota barriers through various free trade agreements. So far, Vietnam has signed 19 FTAs, with 17 already in effect. However, breaking through technical barriers now depends on the efforts of both farmers and enterprises.”

With export momentum averaging 1 billion USD per month, the fruit and vegetable sector is well-positioned to achieve its 8 billion USD export target in 2025. To maintain this growth trajectory, the industry must undergo a comprehensive transformation—from production mindset to market approach.

Source: VTV.vn