Durian prices have dropped sharply, but buyers are still being picky.

Observations at traditional markets in Can Tho City such as Xuan Khanh, Tan An, Ba Bo... show that durian is only sporadically available at a few stalls because the harvest season in the Mekong Delta has ended.

Currently, durian prices at markets range from 40,000 to 80,000 VND/kg, while at stores they range from 90,000 to 160,000 VND/kg, depending on the variety. According to vendors, most durians are imported from the Central Highlands provinces, and prices have dropped by about half compared to the same period last year.

At the fruit stall of Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu at Xuan Khanh market (Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city), the price of durian has decreased by about 20,000 - 40,000 VND/kg compared to nearly two months ago.

"I import the fruit from Dak Lak to sell. Because of the recent rain, the fruit has become tough and mushy, so the purchase price at the farm is also low, from 30,000 to 35,000 VND/kg. Therefore, the price drops by several tens of thousands of VND after transporting it to Can Tho," Ms. Tu said.

Durian prices in Can Tho City range from 40,000 to 80,000 VND/kg, depending on the variety. Photo: Kieu Phung

Despite the low prices, Ms. Nguyen Hong Nhung, a small trader at My Khanh Market (Can Tho City), reduced her import volume due to concerns about unsold inventory.

"Nowadays, durian is sold year-round, it's just that the price is slightly higher depending on the time of year. Compared to 3-4 months ago, sales at the store have decreased by 20%. The low volume of purchases, coupled with the low quality of imported fruit, and the fear of it spoiling if left for too long, have led me to reduce the amount of stock I import," Ms. Nhung said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the area of durian cultivation nationwide increased dramatically from 32,000 hectares in 2015 to over 150,000 hectares in 2023. This area has more than doubled the durian development target (approximately 65,000 - 75,000 hectares, with a production of 830,000 - 950,000 tons) in the Project for the Development of Key Fruit Crops until 2025 and 2030.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that localities should develop plans for durian production in concentrated areas, avoiding expansion of planted area, especially in areas with unsuitable soil, lack of conditions for intensive cultivation, areas without enclosed dikes, or areas with inadequate dikes causing flooding during the rainy season and saltwater intrusion during the dry season in the Mekong Delta.

Source: https://laodong.vn/thi-truong/gia-sau-rieng-giam-sau-nguoi-mua-van-ken-1394141.ldo