Vietnam durian prices diverge sharply as Musang King falls to record lows

In Vietnam, the price of the same durian varieties can differ by dozens of times. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Ri6 variety is sold for as little as 40,000 VND/kg in ordinary stalls, while premium outlets list it above 300,000 VND/kg. Industry officials attribute the gap to differences in fruit quality, production standards, traceability, branding and the market segment targeted.

The high‑end Musang King variety, once consistently priced above 100,000 VND/kg, has plunged to around 70,000 VND/kg in the Central Highlands, with some batches falling below 50,000 VND/kg. The decline stems from excess supply, prolonged rains that reduced fruit quality, and simultaneous harvests in other provinces that flooded the market. Similar price pressures are reported in Malaysia, where Musang King now trades at less than half its previous price, prompting the Malaysian government to seek new export arrangements.

The overall market shift is forcing growers to adopt stricter quality controls and pruning practices to maintain a higher proportion of top‑grade fruit, while retailers adjust pricing to compete in an increasingly oversupplied environment.