In W35 in the durian landscape, durian exports to China have contributed significantly to Vietnam's total turnover, accounting for over 30% of the total revenue in the first eight months of 2023, and are expected to continue to increase. The total value of Vietnamese durian exports is forecasted to reach USD 1.5 billion, with the durian season in Thailand and Malaysia expected to last until the end of 2023. As Sep-23 approaches and supplies from Southeast Asian countries become scarcer, it is anticipated that the price of Vietnamese durian will continue to rise.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoàng Trung, Vietnam’s central highlands region will enter the main durian crop season, which is off-season compared to other countries. This will be an advantage in helping the fruit’s export value surge. Currently, Vietnamese durian has been granted over 300 farming area codes and 100 packaging facility codes by China, facilitating increased durian exports to that country.
Lastly, the Thai Fresh Fruit Traders and Exporters Association reported that durians in the Chumphon region of southern Thailand were returned by Chinese customs due to insect infestation, potentially leading to a ban on their export to China. The association's chairman expressed concern over the situation as China has taken steps to ship insect-infested durians back to Thailand. China may ban the import of durians produced in southern Thailand if the problem persists. The pest infestation has had little impact on durian prices, but the government has to address the issue at a national level. Durian infestation in southern Thailand, characterized by hot, humid conditions and mountainous terrain, is peaking from July to September, posing a threat to fruit production.
