“A New Export Powerhouse”

In recent years, Vietnam’s agricultural exports have shown many positive signs, especially in the fruit sector. Key products such as durian, passion fruit, dragon fruit, and bananas have successfully gained access to major markets including China, South Korea, Japan—and most recently, Australia.

According to Mr. Võ Tấn Lợi, Chairman of the Tiền Giang Durian Association (Đồng Tháp Province), this achievement marks an important milestone for the fruit industry in general and for durian in particular.

“Since the official export of durian to China began, export value has grown dramatically, generating significant income for both farmers and businesses. In 2024, durian became the highest-value fruit export among Vietnam’s agricultural products, far exceeding expectations,” Mr. Lợi shared.

However, the industry also faces numerous challenges. Import markets are becoming increasingly strict, requiring production to follow rigorous standards—from plantation codes and traceability systems to food safety regulations. “We cannot view market access as the final goal; rather, it should be the driving force toward more professional and sustainable production,” he emphasized.

From being a local specialty, durian has risen to join the ranks of Vietnam’s leading export commodities alongside rice, coffee, cashew nuts, and seafood. In just a few short years, durian export value has soared from a few hundred million USD before 2022 to over 2 billion USD per year—making it the fastest-growing fruit export category.

The signing of the official export protocol with China has opened vast opportunities, enabling Vietnamese durian to compete directly with products from Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

“Our country has rare natural advantages—diverse climates, fertile soil, and the ability to cultivate durian year-round across multiple ecological regions. Ri6 and Dona varieties grown in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands, and Southeast region have a distinctive aroma and thick flesh that appeal to Asian consumers. Most importantly, our products not only offer competitive prices but are also highly rated for their quality,” Mr. Lợi concluded.

Mr. Võ Tấn Lợi believes that the remarkable growth of Vietnam’s durian industry is no coincidence but the result of multiple contributing factors.

First, it stems from open trade policies and deeper international integration. The signing of the official export protocol with China in 2022 marked a turning point for the industry, driving significant expansion in both scale and value. In addition, the government’s efforts to establish plantation codes, enhance traceability, and provide technical support have created a solid legal and operational foundation for the production chain.

Second, Vietnam enjoys natural advantages and a wide diversity of cultivation regions. Durians can be grown year-round in many provinces—from Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng, and Đồng Nai to Đồng Tháp, Vĩnh Long, and Cần Thơ. This diversity ensures a stable supply, minimizes seasonal risks, and opens opportunities to develop large-scale production zones that meet international standards.

Third, industry associations and regulatory agencies play an essential role. The Tiền Giang Durian Association and other commodity organizations have served as vital bridges connecting farmers, businesses, and authorities. Regular training programs, trade promotion activities, and brand protection initiatives have contributed to building a more cohesive and professional value chain.

Fourth, favorable market demand and consumer trends have also fueled growth. Asian consumers are willing to pay premium prices for fresh, high-quality fruit with clear origins. This trend provides strong momentum for Vietnam’s durian industry to continue expanding its scale, improving quality, and targeting more high-end markets.

Alongside its impressive achievements, Vietnam’s fruit industry continues to face several fundamental challenges.

First and foremost, product quality remains inconsistent, and production is still largely small-scale and fragmented. This makes traceability difficult and, in some cases, leads to violations of food safety standards. In certain regions, rapid and uncontrolled expansion of planting areas has exceeded the capacity to manage plantation codes, resulting in warnings or temporary import suspensions from foreign markets.

Another major issue lies in limited post-harvest processing and preservation capacity. Most Vietnamese fruits are still exported fresh, while the proportion of deeply processed products remains very low. Cold storage systems, freezing technology, and cold-chain logistics are underdeveloped, reducing product value and leaving the industry vulnerable to market fluctuations.

“To achieve sustainable growth, we must invest heavily in processing technology—building freezing facilities and developing value-added products such as frozen durian, ice cream, pastries, and beverages,” Mr. Lợi suggested.

Moreover, heavy dependence on a single market—particularly China—poses significant risks. According to Mr. Lợi, the solution is to diversify export destinations to other promising regions such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, while standardizing product quality in line with international standards to access more demanding markets.

Within the region, Thailand and Malaysia remain the dominant “giants” in the durian industry, boasting strong brands and well-developed supply chains. However, Vietnam holds considerable advantages in production costs, geographical proximity to China (which helps reduce logistics expenses), and the ability to supply fruit year-round.

“Our main weaknesses lie in the relatively young national brand, uneven quality, and sometimes loose compliance with standards. But if these can be addressed, Vietnam has every opportunity to rise and compete on equal footing within the region,” Mr. Lợi affirmed.

Source: Agriculture and Environment Newspaper