Prices of grade A (highest quality) Monthong durian have doubled from a year ago to VND155,000 (US$5.93) per kilogram at the farm gate, the highest level in three years.
Grade A Ri 6 durians have similarly climbed to VND80,000–87,000 in the Mekong Delta, where the off-season crop is being harvested.
Thanh, a trader in the delta’s Dong Thap Province, said prices rose because yields are down 30–40% from a year ago while export demand remains high.
He needs to procure 40 tons of Monthong, the main variety for exports, but has only managed to secure half the quantity, he said.
Exporters have also attributed the price hike to improved export conditions. Demand from China, the top market, usually increases at the start of the year due to the festive season. Japan, Canada and the U.S. have also stepped up purchases in recent months.
Durians at an orchard in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Photo by Manh Khuong |
Despite the higher prices, farmers said their profits have not increased much due to a 10–20% hike in fertilizer and labor costs and the decline in output.
Vietnam exported a record $3.86 billion worth of durian last year, up 20% from 2024 and accounting for nearly half of all fruit and vegetable shipments.
Exporters expect the figure to exceed $4 billion this year, though this depends greatly on whether businesses can meet China’s increasingly stringent quality requirements.
That country has recently introduced regulations requiring certification letters from relevant authorities for many agricultural imports.
Industry experts said if businesses and farmers keep up with these requirements, Vietnam could remain competitive thanks to its longer durian harvest period.
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