In addition to the real durian, the auction winner also received a gold-plated durian worth over 50 million VND as a souvenir. Photo: UN
On September 1st, as part of the Krong Pak Durian Festival’s second edition, the organizers held an auction for three durians that had been crowned “Durian Queens.”
The first durian, from a century-old tree in the CADA plantation, had a starting bid of 60 million VND. A local business ultimately secured the fruit for 350 million VND.
The second durian, of the Dona variety, had a starting bid of 70 million VND. It was carefully selected from numerous households and underwent a rigorous selection process. After intense bidding, the Hong Sang Fruit Company (from Tien Giang province) won the auction with a bid of 800 million VND.
Notably, the company’s representative provided an additional 100 million VND to support local welfare programs.
Mr. Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak province, presents the gold-plated durian to the representative of the Chau Thu Import-Export Fruit Corporation, which won the auction for the “Queen of Ri6 Durian” with a bid of 1.4 billion VND. Photo: MQ
The third durian, of the Ri6 variety, had a starting bid of 60 million VND. This fruit attracted intense interest from businesses. Ngo Tuong Vy, a female entrepreneur and CEO of the Chau Thu Import-Export Fruit Corporation (from Ben Tre province), personally bid 500 million VND.
During the auction, Ms. Vy called on others to contribute financially to support local welfare initiatives. Ultimately, the Ri6 durian sold for over 1.4 billion VND.
The three auctions collectively raised 2.55 billion VND.
According to the organizers, all auction proceeds will be donated to the People’s Committee of Krong Pak district to fund local welfare programs. In addition to taking home the real durians, the auction winners also received gold-plated durians worth over 50 million VND each as souvenirs.
Organizers present gold-plated durians to the auction winners as souvenirs. Photo: MQ
On the same day, at a workshop on building and developing a sustainable durian ecosystem, Ms. Ngo Thi Minh Trinh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Krong Pak district, shared that the district has nearly 7,200 hectares of durian trees, with an estimated yield of over 90,000 tons in 2024.
The district has issued 37 region codes for over 2,000 hectares of durian plantations, covering nearly 3,800 households and 18 packaging facilities. This is considered a significant advantage for the district’s durian exports to China. However, Ms. Trinh acknowledged that the local durian industry faces challenges such as small-scale production and low yields.
Vietnam’s Durian Exports Expected to Flourish
Vietnamese durians are highly popular in the Chinese market. Photo: CT
According to the latest data from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached nearly $4 billion in the first seven months of 2024, a 26% increase from the same period in 2023. Durian exports led the way with $1.6 billion, a 50% surge from the previous year. Notably, China remains the top market for Vietnamese durians, accounting for 92% of exports, with a value of nearly $1.5 billion.
Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, attributed this success to the consistently high prices and significant profits for farmers. Additionally, on August 19, Vietnam signed a protocol to export frozen durians to China, marking a pivotal moment for the industry and paving the way for further growth.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development forecasts Vietnam’s durian exports to reach $3-3.5 billion in 2024, with frozen durians accounting for $400-500 million.
Unlocking the Potential: THILOGI’s Endeavor to Revolutionize Official Durian Exports Through Chu Lai Port
The Chu Lai Port is emerging as a vital gateway for trade in Central and Highland regions of Vietnam. It plays a pivotal role in facilitating the export needs of the entire region, especially for agricultural produce, as evident by the ever-increasing trade value.
“Supercharging Durian Exports: THILOGI’s Official Entry through Chu Lai Port”
The Chu Lai Port is emerging as a vital gateway for trade in Central and Highland regions of Vietnam. It plays a pivotal role in facilitating the export needs of the region, especially for agricultural produce, as evident by the ever-increasing trade value.
“Win the ‘Queen of Durian’ Auction and Receive a Gold-Plated Durian Fruit”
The lucky winner of the “Queen of Durian” auction at the Krong Pak District’s Durian Festival in Dak Lak Province will receive a very special treat – a durian fruit coated in 24-karat gold.
The King of Fruits: Meeting China’s Strict Standards
To enter the Chinese market, durians must undergo stringent selection processes. Only those that are free from foreign metal contaminants, with traceable origins and processed and stored according to stringent standards, are deemed acceptable.
The King of Fruits: Durian’s $3 Billion Export Potential
In the first half of this year, durian exports reached a staggering $1.32 billion, reflecting a remarkable 45% increase compared to the same period last year.
