Vietnam's durian exports fell sharply in many markets

In October, Vietnam witnessed a significant decline in durian exports, with a total export turnover of only 212 million USD, marking a 68.4% decrease from September and nearly 40% decrease compared to the same period last year. The drop was largely due to a 70% reduction in imports by Mainland China, the largest market, and decreases in imports by Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. Factors contributing to the decline include climate change, extreme weather, and disease affecting durian crops, leading to lower yields and quality. Despite these challenges, the cumulative durian export in the first 10 months of the year reached over 3 billion USD, an increase of 46% from the previous year. The country aims to reach 3.5 billion USD in durian exports but faces hurdles due to decreased output in the main and off-season harvests. There is also a need to diversify export markets beyond China to achieve long-term growth, with potential new markets including the US, Japan, and South Korea.