In W43 in the durian landscape, in Vietnam, durian has surpassed jackfruit, dragon fruit, watermelon, banana and lychee to gain the leading position in the fresh fruit and vegetable export category. By the end of Sep-23, Vietnam’s durian export value had reached USD 1.63 billion, accounting for 55% of total exports. Durian exports experienced a 1,342.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase. Furthermore, the value of durian exports until Oct-23 is estimated to exceed USD 2.0 billion. The main reason behind the sharp increase is the boosted demand for Vietnamese durian from the Chinese market.
Furthermore, prices for Thai durian and Ri6 durian in Vietnam stabilized after a price surge early in W43. On October 29, Ri6 durian held the highest price at USD 4.07 per kilogram (kg) (VND 100,000/kg) in the southwest region. Thai durian was priced at USD 4.07/kg (VND 100,000/kg), and high quality Thai durian ranged from USD 4.27 to 4.40/kg (VND 105,000 to 108,000/kg). In the southeast region, high quality Ri6 durian maintained a price of USD 3.87 to 4.07/kg (VND 95,000 to 100,000/kg), while Ri6 durian sold in buckets stayed at USD 3.62 to 3.83/kg (VND 89,000 to 94,000/kg. In the Central Highlands region, high quality Ri6 durian retained its price at USD 3.87 to 4.07/kg (VND 95,000 to 100,000/kg, and Ri6 durian in buckets remained at USD 3.62 to 3.83/kg (VND 89,000 to 94,000/kg.
Lastly, China and Vietnam will open two new international borders to meet the increasing demand for fresh fruit transportation between the two countries, with the main products to benefit including dragon fruits, bananas, watermelons, and durians. The two new borders are Meng Khang in Lao Cai province, Vietnam, and Qiaotou border in Yunnan province, China. This change will increase the number of Lao Cai international borders to three. According to the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (VMIT), as of mid-Oct-23, the export value of agricultural products passing through Lao Cai International Port has increased by 378% YoY. It is worth noting that, from October 1 to October 10, durians shipped to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces through the Lao Cai Jincheng No. 2 International Land Port reached 52,000 tons, equal to 50-80 trucks per day. Additionally, Lao Cai Province has opened a "Green Channel" for fruit carts to simplify relevant procedures. Previously, a fruit cart required 4-5 phytosanitary documents, but now only one is required. By implementing these measures, the trade efficiency between the two nations is expected to improve significantly.
