According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, durian exports have been recovering strongly since May.

In the first three months of the year, durian exports remained low, with monthly revenue not exceeding $100 million. In April, exports slightly increased to just over $100 million.

By May, durian exports began recovering, reaching $204 million. However, the cumulative total for the first 5 months was only $387 million, down nearly 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

In the first three months of the year, durian exports remained low, with monthly revenue not exceeding $100 million. In April, exports slightly increased to just over $100 million.

In May, durian exports began recovering, with export turnover reaching $204 million. However, the cumulative total for the first 5 months was only $387 million, down nearly 58 percent compared to the same period last year.

In June, durian exports surged, reaching over $300 million. In July alone, exports were estimated to bring $350-400 million in turnover.

“Durian export revenue is estimated to exceed $1 billion in the first 7 months of the year,” said a leader of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, noting that Vietnam’s billion-dollar durian industry is regaining its export momentum after challenges with banned substances like auramine O and cadmium.

Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the MAE’s Plant Protection Department, said durian exports, especially frozen durians, have increased significantly in recent months.

According to Dat, the peak export season will run from now until the end of the year as the Central Highlands enters its main durian harvest. The department is working closely with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) to boost exports.

In late June, a GACC delegation inspected durian growing areas, packing facilities, and laboratories in Vietnam. The delegation praised Vietnam’s management efforts and solutions, committing to a report ensuring smoother durian exports in the coming months.

Prior to that, in late May, GACC updated its records to include 829 additional durian growing area codes and 131 packing facility codes from Vietnam. By the end of May, Vietnam had over 1,400 growing area codes approved for official durian exports to China.

The expansion of this list of growing area and packing facility codes will facilitate the increase of durian exports to the Chinese market.

MAE held talks with the GACC and agreed to address export barriers, establishing a “green channel” for fresh fruits, including durians, during peak harvest seasons.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam assessed that durian exports are on a positive trajectory, as issues with auramine O and cadmium have been well addressed. 

Tam An