The King of Fruits: Durian’s Price Surge Has Consumers in a Spin.

On the 6th and 7th, durian exporters announced the purchasing prices for durian varieties. The highly sought-after Monthong durian (also known as Dona) was priced at 104,000-106,000 VND/kg (grade 1) and 84,000-86,000 VND/kg (grade 2). Meanwhile, the Ri 6 variety fetched 62,000-64,000 VND/kg (grade 1) and 47,000-49,000 VND/kg (grade 2).

Compared to just two weeks ago, the price of Monthong durian has increased by over 20,000 VND/kg, while the Ri 6 variety has seen a more modest rise of 2,000-4,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Pham Ngoc Huan, a durian farmer from Dak Lak province, owns a 2-hectare Monthong durian farm near Buon Ma Thuot city. She shares that she eagerly anticipates the durian prices every day, even though harvest is still about 45 days away.

“Last year, we sold durians in bulk at the farm for 84,000 VND/kg. This year, traders have offered to deposit 80,000 VND/kg, but I haven’t accepted yet. We faced a drought earlier this year, so we expect the yield to be only 70% of last year’s harvest. Hopefully, the higher prices will make up for the lower yield,” Ms. Huan said.

Mr. Nguyen Van Muoi, Deputy Head of the Southern Office of the Vietnam Gardeners Association (VACVINA), confirmed that the recent surge in durian prices is due to a gap in production. “The growing regions in the Southeast are nearing the end of their season, while the durian harvest in the Central Highlands is just beginning, leading to a temporary decrease in supply and a subsequent rise in prices,” Mr. Muoi explained. He added that the drought this year has also impacted the yield, resulting in a lower proportion of grade 1 and 2 durians, further driving up the prices of export-quality durians.

Mr. Muoi also noted that the overall durian harvest has increased due to the expansion of durian-growing areas. However, a significant portion of the crop does not meet export standards and has to be sold at lower prices.

From an exporter’s perspective, Mr. Truong Viet Thang, Director of Toan Thang Import-Export Trading Co., Ltd., attributed the high durian prices to speculation, especially for the Monthong variety. “Some domestic traders are driving up local prices, and in some cases, the price of Monthong durian in Vietnam exceeds that of China’s wholesale markets, which is unreasonable and creates challenges for genuine durian consumers,” Mr. Thang stated.