Vietnam durian industry hit by steep price fall, moves to restructure supply chain

After several years of record exports, Vietnam's durian sector is experiencing a sharp decline in prices both domestically and in China. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association attributes the drop to a rapid surge in supply, tighter Chinese quality requirements and increased competition from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. Wholesale prices for the Monthong variety fell about 65% between April and June, reaching as low as 26 CNY per kilogram (≈94,000 VND/kg), far below last year's 70‑90 CNY/kg level.

Farmers fear significant income loss; as Lại Đức Đại, chairman of Krông Pắc commune, warned, "If fresh fruit consumption slows and we have to shift to frozen, prices fall sharply and farmers' earnings are hit." Provincial officials estimate that a drop to 30,000 VND/kg could cost the sector tens of billions of dong. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and local authorities are proposing measures to resolve planting‑area code bottlenecks, improve quality‑control labs, expand cold‑storage facilities, develop frozen‑fruit processing and diversify export channels, aiming to sustain an industry worth nearly USD 4 billion.

These steps are intended to create a more resilient value chain—from farms to processing and final consumption—to protect growers and maintain Vietnam's position in the global durian market.