Durian prices have tripled to VND150,000-VND190,000 ($6.40-$8.10) per kilogram at southern farms as demand from China has increased. One durian trader in the southern city of Can Tho said that he has not been able to buy enough quantity to sell to domestic buyers, as farmers are only willing to sell at high prices.
She added that she has been busy going to farms and paying high rates. She says she is even willing to pay commissions to those who introduce her to new farms. Local farmers say that durian prices in southern Tien Giang province range from VND120,000 to VND190,000, a triple increase year-on-year.
Traders sell to Chinese buyers at even higher prices, from VND170,000 to VND290,000. Last year, Vietnam’s durian exports reached nearly $400 million, with $300 million of it bought by China. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association said that Vietnamese durian has advantages over those grown in Thailand and the Philippines for export to China.
Source: e.vnexpress.net