Farmers are actually promoting top-grade Monthong durians for VND65,000-70,000 (US$2.64-$2.84) per kilogram, down 25-30% in comparison with the costs at the beginning of the season in July.
Grade B durians are priced at VND55,000-63,000 per kilogram, with an analogous lower from July and roughly 10% decrease than the identical interval final 12 months.
Minh Thanh, a farmer within the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, hopes that durian costs will get better by the season’s finish. Nevertheless, extended heavy rains have compromised the fruit’s high quality, resulting in low promoting costs on the backyard.
Equally, Hong Anh, proprietor of 0.5-hectare crop within the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, encounters challenges as consumers rescind their gives of VND80,000 per kilogram, even forfeiting deposits, compelling her to promote at solely VND65,000 attributable to poor high quality.
Anh attributes the value drop to the fruit’s diminished high quality from extreme rainfall, notably in new orchards that lack correct cultivation strategies. The hardened fruits complicate exports, with most being consumed domestically.
Manh Hoang, a dealer within the Central Highlands, observes that durian high quality suffers when grown alongside pepper and low. As the costs for pepper and low improve, many farmers prioritize them and apply unregulated fertilization, which degrades the durian high quality. Some consumers solely buy durian to be used in ice cream or for extracting the pulp, additional complicating the export of complete fruits.
“I purchase a number of tons every day, however solely 50% of the fruits meet export requirements,” says Hoang. “The remaining are offered in HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang.”
The Common Division of Vietnam Customs reviews that within the first seven months of 2024, Vietnam exported 476,130 tons of durian, valued at US$1.6 billion, representing a 50.5% improve in quantity and 49.4% improve in worth in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.
Nevertheless, July noticed a 30.8% lower in each worth and quantity in comparison with June, totaling solely US$280 million. Exports additional declined to US$200 million in August.
Regardless of weather-related slowdowns, companies word that durian export demand from China is recovering attributable to festive events. Improved climate from October is anticipated to boost the standard of durian. Moreover, the quantity of low season produce has elevated doubtlessly, rising export turnover.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary Common of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Affiliation, explains that the discount in export quantity throughout July and August is short-term. From September, durian export turnover is anticipated to surge, doubtlessly reaching practically US$3 billion this 12 months.
On Aug. 19, throughout a go to to China by Celebration Common Secretary and State President To Lam, the 2 nations signed a protocol on exporting frozen durian, providing substantial alternatives for Vietnamese agriculture. Exports of frozen durian are anticipated to generate US$400-500 million this 12 months.
In 2023, Vietnam exported roughly 500,000 tons of recent durian, valued at US$2.3 billion, with 90% destined for China. The realm planted with durian encompassed 154,000 hectares, yielding practically 1.2 million tons, an annual improve of 15%.
Vietnam has round 151,000 hectares below durian, with the Central Highlands accounting for half of it. Different massive rising areas embody the southeast and the Mekong Delta areas with 25,000 ha and 42,000 ha.
