Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association had an interview with a reporter from Industry and Trade Newspaper about this issue.

Sir, durian continues to be a bright spot in the picture of fruit and vegetable exports when the first 9 months of 2023 brought in 1.63 billion USD. What do you comment on this number?

According to statistics from the General Department of Customs , in the first 9 months of 2023, the country's fruit and vegetable export turnover reached 4.21 billion USD, an increase of 72.5% over the same period last year. China is Vietnam's largest fruit and vegetable import market with a turnover of 2.75 billion USD, up 160% over the same period last year.

It is expected that durian exports by the end of October 2023 will earn approximately 2 billion USD

Vegetables and fruits are the export product group with the most impressive growth in turnover in the first 9 months of the year. Among them, the biggest contributor to the growth of exported fruits and vegetables is durian. By the end of September 2023, durian export turnover reached 1.63 billion USD, more than 14 times higher than the same period last year.

In July 2023, fruit and vegetable exports earned 700 million USD, with durian products alone earning 400 million USD.

Up to now, fruit and vegetable export turnover in October 2023 is expected to reach about 700 million USD, therefore, durian exports are expected to earn 400 million USD.

With this figure, it is expected that by the end of October 2023, durian exports will earn approximately 2 billion USD. And it is likely that this year, durian exports will reach about 2.2 - 2.3 billion USD.

Is the durian crop in the Central Highlands over now, sir?

The durian season in the Central Highlands has not ended yet, this time we are harvesting durian in Dak Lak. We still have durian growing areas in Gia Lai, and it is expected to be harvested in November 2023.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

This is also the time when durian prices are high because no country has durian left. However, durian output in Gia Lai region is less than Dak Lak (only 1/3 of the output).

In December 2023, we will harvest and export durian in the Western region such as Tien Giang and Vinh Long. The output is not much, but the price is high, so it brings great export value.

Currently, durian prices are at 70,000 - 80,000 VND/kg, with this price farmers earn quite high profits, somewhere around 300 - 400%.

The fact that people in many regions, including Gia Lai, are promoting durian cultivation due to high profits, is this something to worry about, sir?

Thai durian is grown in the southern region, on par with the Western and Southeast regions of Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Central Highlands region is located at a high latitude so durian can be grown off-season. Gia Lai has suitable soil, climate, and latitude for off-season durian. Therefore, we have a price advantage and less competition.

As I said above, it is expected that durian exports this year will earn 2.2 - 2.3 billion USD. With this number, compared to Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products, durian holds a record position. However, compared to Thailand, we are still low.

Up to this point, Thailand's durian export turnover has reached 3.5 billion USD.

However, Vietnamese durian has just entered the playing field (signing the Durian Export Protocol to the Chinese market), and reaching this number is also very good.

Vietnam was later to achieve such great results, what is the reason, sir?

The reason is that Vietnamese durian is available all year round, while Thailand only has it seasonally. Besides, our logistics costs for exporting to the Chinese market are lower than those of Thailand.

The quality of Vietnamese durian is also very good, so even though we have just entered the durian market, we have achieved very respectable results.

With the improvement of quality, along with being granted more growing area codes, packaging facility codes, and opening more markets, the durian export figure will reach 3.5 billion USD in the near future. We can absolutely achieve it.

What recommendations do you have for durian growers?

It is predicted that in the next 15 years, the durian consumption market will still be very good. Currently, there is no crop that can replace durian in terms of profits. If we restrict people from planting, while people in other countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Myanmar still increase the planting area, it will lead to disadvantages for people in the country. They expand, while we stand in one place, which means we will be disadvantaged.

We only recommend that people consider sustainability factors and enhance product and breed quality.

Vietnamese durian must be ready to compete in quantity and at the same time enhance quality to gain an advantage. Because when the market has many products, whoever's product has good quality will win

At the same time, people also need to pay attention to the issue of climate change. People should not grow durian in saline areas, the fruit will not be good, the tree will die halfway, causing a disadvantage to the grower.

Thank you!