Vietnam Takes Measures to Overcome Decrease in Durian Exports to China

Rewritten Article:

Swift action required to tackle technical barriers hindering durian exports to China

HÀ NỘI – The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Đỗ Đức Duy, has urgently called for issues to be resolved that are causing significant obstacles in exporting durians to China, following a steep decline in shipments at the beginning of 2025.

A recent report from the ministry reveals that Vietnam's durian exports to China totaled just 35,000 tonnes, worth approximately $130 million, in the first four months of this year - a paltry 20% of the export targets. This is a sharp contrast to the $500 million worth of durians exported during the same period last year.

Duy believes that the drop in durian exports can be attributed to several key factors:

Insufficient Legal Frameworks: The absence of clear legal frameworks governing durian exports has added uncertainty for exporters.
Quarantine Challenges: Complex and opaque quarantine procedures further complicate the export process.
Poor Quality Management: Ensuring Vietnamese durians meet Chinese quality standards requires a significant improvement in quality control measures.

To combat these issues, Duy emphasizes the necessity of improved coordination with Chinese customs to address technical barriers and fast-track the issuance of codes for growing areas and packing facilities. Enhancing quarantine procedures to expedite shipments and adjust plans accordingly is also crucial.

In the long run, the Minister suggests overhauling the legal system that oversees agricultural product exports and enhancing technical standards throughout the supply chain. Embracing sustainable practices in the durian industry is no longer an option but a necessity.

Duy also encourages the development of value-added durian products, specifically frozen durians, to boost value and reduce dependence on fresh durian exports.

Vietnam's total fruit and vegetable exports in the first four months of 2025 reached $1.62 billion, representing a 14% decline year-on-year.

Meanwhile, durian prices in the domestic market have plummeted, with prices at the farm averaging around VNĐ35,000-40,000 per kilogramme - a stark decrease compared to the same period last year.

Việt Nam's durian exports to China reached only 35,000 tonnes valued at around US$130 million in the first four months of this year, down from $500 million in the same period last year. - VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hiền

Lack of clear legal frameworks
The absence of clear legal frameworks for durian exports creates uncertainty for exporters, making it difficult to adhere to regulations and ensure compliance.
Quarantine procedures
Strict and opaque quarantine procedures add complexity to the export process, potentially leading to delays and allowing for increased contamination risk.
Quality management
Proper quality control measures are crucial to ensuring durians meet required standards, reducing the risk of rejection and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Sources:[1] Vietnam Investment Review[2] VietnamNet Bridge[3] Vietnam News Agency

To address the hindering factors in Vietnam's durian exports to China, it is essential to emphasize improved collaboration with Chinese customs to expedite the resolution of technical barriers and accelerate the issuance of codes for approved growing areas and packing facilities.
Enhancing quarantine procedures, adjusting plans accordingly, and adopting sustainable practices in the durian industry, such as cold chain management and proper packaging, could significantly improve the durian export situation.
In addition to addressing the technical issues, developing value-added durian products like frozen durians could help increase value and reduce dependence on fresh durian exports, potentially becoming a significant part of the Vietnamese food industry's culture.
Vietnam's AI capabilities could be leveraged to identify patterns and trends in consumer preferences and facilitate customization of durian products to meet the demands of Chinese consumers, providing a competitive edge in the global market.
As the environmental concerns of China and other countries continue to rise, embracing sustainable farming practices and adhering to strict environmental regulations could help ensure long-term success in the durian export industry while promoting a cleaner and greener environment for all nations.