India added Vietnam to the list of eligible countries in mid-July, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection said Thursday.
Indian authorities have not imposed any special import conditions or additional phytosanitary declaration requirements. The approval follows negotiations between the two countries.
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A farmer collects durians in Dong Thap Province, November 2023. Photo by Read/Hoang Nam |
But the department said that India remains a new market, and in the initial phase, Vietnamese durian is expected to be sold primarily in major cities through premium retail chains, restaurants, hotels, and e-commerce platforms.
It advised exporters to therefore carefully study consumer preferences in that country, product specifications, transportation logistics, and distribution networks to develop appropriate market entry strategies.
Earlier this year, durian exports to China, Vietnam’s largest market, fell sharply after Chinese authorities tightened quality control measures and traceability requirements and stepped up inspections for chemical residues.
Many shipments experienced delays due to lengthy customs processes, and prices at the farm gate fell sharply in Vietnam as a result.
Since it was during the peak harvest period, supply of the fruit increased sharply. The output in the first half of this year rose by 12.7%, the highest of any major fruit, to 603,300 metric tons.
Vietnam’s durian exports are expected to top $2 billion by the end of July even as prices remain under pressure in China, the main market, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.