According to the statistics of the General Department of Customs, the estimated value of Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in January 2024 reached 510 million USD, an increase of 24.9% compared to December 2023 and an increase of 112.1% compared to January 2023.
In the structure of fruit and vegetable exports in 2023, fruit varieties achieved the highest growth rate, with durian contributing to this strong growth, reaching 2.2 billion USD, an increase of 430.1% compared to 2022. China is the leading destination.
According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, durian imports from China increased by an average of 27.8% in the period 2019 – 2023.
In 2023 alone, China’s durian imports continued to grow strongly, reaching 1.4 million tons, worth $6.7 billion, increase of 72.9% in terms of volume and 65.6% in terms of value compared to 2022; increase of 135.8% in terms of volume and 318.5% in terms of value compared to 2019. The average import price of durian into China in 2023 was $4,709.6 per ton, a decrease of 4.2% compared to 2022.
Previously, Thailand was the main supplier of durian to China. In 2023, Thailand’s durian market share in China’s total imports decreased to 65.1%, reaching 929 thousand tons, worth $4.57 billion. The average import price of durian from the Thai market was $4,709.6 per ton, a decrease of 4.2% compared to 2022.
It is worth noting that China imported 493 thousand tons, worth 2.1 billion USD of durian from Vietnam, an increase of 1,107.0% in terms of volume and 1,035.8% in terms of value compared to 2022. Vietnam’s durian market share in China’s total imports increased significantly from 5% in 2022 to 34.6%. The average import price of durian from Vietnam was $4,332.2 per ton, a decrease of 5.9% compared to 2022.
Vietnam’s fresh durian has been officially licensed for export to the Chinese market since July 2022.
To date, the General Administration of Customs of China has announced that Vietnam currently has 876 area codes for durian cultivation and packaging facilities that meet the requirements for export to this populous country. Of these, 708 area codes for durian cultivation have been granted.
Currently, there are 23 localities in Vietnam that have been granted area codes for registered durian cultivation that meet the conditions for official export to China. In terms of packaging facilities, there are currently 22 localities with registered packaging facility codes that are allowed to export durian officially to China.
The Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has completed the procedures and submitted the dossier requesting China to grant permission to import frozen durian from Vietnam. If frozen durian from Vietnam is granted permission, the prospects for exporting this item will continue to be optimistic.
The export turnover to China accounts for over 99% of the total durian export turnover. The high demand for export has pushed up prices, and the durian cultivation area has also increased. Grade A Monthong durians are currently purchased by wholesalers in Tien Giang at 200,000 VND/kg, an increase of nearly 20% compared to the end of last year.
According to the Plant Protection Department, as of the beginning of 2023, the durian area in the South was 47,208 hectares, and by the beginning of 2024, it had reached 62,173 hectares, an increase of nearly 15,000 hectares. Coastal provinces in the Central and Central Highlands regions currently have 57,101 hectares of durian, an increase of over 19,200 hectares in just one year.
2023 was a successful year for the fruit and vegetable sector, in the context of the market facing many difficulties. With the achievements in 2023, the prospects for fruit and vegetable exports in 2024 are very promising, with many types of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables dominating large markets worldwide.
