According to Vietnamese commercial counsellor in China Nong Duc Lai, Vietnam exported the first batch of durian to China in mid-September last year following the signing of an agreement between China’s customs and Vietnam’s agriculture ministry.
In the final three months of 2022, Vietnam shipped a total of 40,800 tonnes of durian to China and generated a revenue of 188 million USD.
The success of Vietnamese durian in the world’s second-largest economy is attributed to the fact that the market was previously dominated by Thai durian, with high prices and short harvest times.
Vietnamese durian has been able to address such drawbacks with longer harvest times, more affordable prices, short transport distances and a particularly delicious taste.
At a fruit festival held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin in late 2022, Chinese distributors said they would step up the import and sale of Vietnamese durian through the supermarket and online channels.
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Durian on sale at a market in Beijing, China. (Photo: Phuong Thao) |
Recently, Chinese authorities have granted licences to an additional 230 Vietnamese facilities, including 163 orchards and 67 packaging facilities, that meet the requirements for exporting durian to China.
The latest additions raise the total number of eligible Vietnamese durian facilities to 343.
Counsellor Nong Duc Lai said that with a positive performance in 2022, hundreds of newly licensed facilities and the warm reception of Chinese consumers, Vietnamese durian could bring in 1 billion USD from the Chinese market this year.
However, durian growers and exporters need to strictly comply with phytosanitary requirements, ensure product quality and step up promotion across different channels.
Localities are also advised to plan the growing areas following market demand and refrain from overexpansion to avoid unnecessary risks.
