Vietnam's durian exports reached over US$3 billion in the first 10 months of 2024, marking a 46% increase compared to the same period last year. However, October saw a downturn in shipments to major markets, with China, the primary export destination, reducing its imports by 70% from the previous month. Other markets including Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea also saw declines ranging from 40-56%, as per customs data. Notably, Cambodia ceased its imports from Vietnam in October after a period of increased buying.
October's export value plummeted to US$212 million, a 68.4% decrease from September and 40% lower than the previous year, with China's purchases accounting for $190 million of the total. Dang Phuc Nguyen, the general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, attributed the sharp decline to climate change impacts on durian yield and quality, alongside a premature end to the Central Highlands' main harvest season. Off-season fruits from this region and others, like the Mekong Delta, failed to meet export quality standards due to extreme weather conditions affecting flower sustainability and production.
The reduced off-season output has cast doubt on meeting the $3.5 billion export target for 2024, with revised projections now setting fruit and vegetable exports at $7 billion for the year, durian contributing $3.2 billion. Vietnam, with 154,000 hectares of durian cultivation and an annual production of nearly 1.2 million tons, exported 500,000 tons worth over $2.2 billion last year, 90% of which was to China. Experts suggest that for sustainable growth, the durian industry needs to address climate change challenges and diversify its market beyond China to include destinations like the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.
Source: VNExpress