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In Vietnam, durian was crowned the “king of fruits” in 2023, bringing significant foreign exchange earnings to the country. Preliminary results show that in the first seven months of 2024, durian exports surpassed 3.8 billion USD, a 23.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
If durian is the king of fruits, then Musang King durian is the king among them. Musang King durians are flat, with thin seeds, sticky flesh, and a rich, sweet aroma. They weigh between 1 and 4 kg. The fruit has a dark green color and large spines. It is characterized by a groove between the stem and the body, and its base shows five distinct, thick segments.
Musang King is also the most expensive durian in the world. When it first appeared in Vietnam, frozen Musang King durian flesh was sold at a price of 1.4-1.8 million VND per kg, four to five times more expensive than other Vietnamese durian varieties.
Musang King durian originated in Malaysia. In recent years, in addition to frozen durian, Musang King is also grown in Vietnam, particularly in the Tay Nguyen and Mekong Delta regions. This variety has been cultivated experimentally by local farmers for the past four years. Tay Nguyen, in particular, is the largest durian-growing region in the country.
Currently, the feverishly high prices of Musang King durian have plummeted. Traders are offering whole fruits at just 99,000-160,000 VND per kg. This price is nearly three times lower than the same period last year and is even cheaper than common varieties like Ri 6 and Monthong (170,000 VND/kg). This is an unprecedented situation in the market.
Photo: Manh Khuong
A major trader explained that the sharp drop in prices for Musang King durians grown in Vietnam is due to their inferior quality, with the sweet flesh being overly intense and cloying.
Notably, this variety has the lowest yield when cultivated in Vietnam. Furthermore, without proper care techniques, the fruit can become starchy or bland when exposed to rainy weather. As a result, traders have had to lower prices to match those of other varieties and even lower if the appearance is less than ideal.
According to Professor Tran Van Hau, a former senior lecturer at Can Tho University, Musang King durians with starchy flesh are only consumed domestically. If a plantation has starchy fruit, traders will not purchase it, resulting in very low prices, sometimes even lower than Thai and Ri6 durians.
Additionally, when Musang King durian first appeared in Vietnam, its price was high due to its novelty and limited supply. As the supply increased, the price returned to a more reasonable level for the market.
Currently, there is an abundant supply of Musang King durian, leading to continuous price reductions to clear inventory. Furthermore, in mid-July, the quality of Musang King durian was affected by unfavorable weather conditions, further contributing to the decrease in price.
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