Durian prices are rising like gold, with some varieties increasing by nearly half a million dong per kilogram.

By the end of October, the main durian season in Vietnam has ended, causing a sharp increase in the price of off-season durian. In particular, Musang King durian is currently priced at over 400,000 VND/kg and is forecast to continue rising.

A small, oval-shaped Musang King durian sells for over 425,000 VND - Photo: THAO THUONG

Vietnamese durian is widely grown in the Central Highlands, with the harvest season ending at the end of October. Meanwhile, from now until the end of March next year, off-season durian from the Mekong Delta will be harvested.

Markets, shops, supermarkets… all lack durian.

On November 1st, Tuoi Tre Online observed that durian selling points in Ho Chi Minh City, compared to previous days, are now closed. Some places specializing in durian are closed, some have only a few vendors, and some can't even find a single durian fruit after searching the entire market.

At Phu Nhuan Market (Phu Nhuan District), from the market entrance on Phan Dinh Phung Street straight to the end of the market, bordering Huynh Van Banh Street, both sides of the fruit and vegetable stalls display a wide variety of goods, but… they don't sell durian.

"For almost two months now, I haven't bought durian to sell. The reason is that the season is over, so the price is high, and the durians aren't as fragrant or delicious as they were at the beginning of the season. Durians are a mixed bag; some fruits are good, some are bad. Selling them opened on the spot at the end of the season would only result in losses," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung (a fruit vendor at Phu Nhuan Market).

Similarly, on Phan Xich Long Street (Phu Nhuan District), there is a very large durian warehouse displaying many Ri6 durians, but for the past week, this store has been locked up.

For example, at Horizon apartment complex (Nguyen Van Nguyen Street, District 1), known as the city's "rich neighborhood," there's a Co-opmart ( Saigon Co-op ) supermarket that always sells high-value fruits, including durian. However, according to a sales employee, Ri6 durian has been out of stock for a whole month, or if available, the quality is poor, so the store hasn't imported it.

Durian prices are increasing every day.

Durian connoisseurs are no strangers to the large store selling fresh and frozen durian on Huynh Tinh Cua Street (Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3). Unlike other days, the fresh produce is displayed on shelves extending almost to the street level, including many "premium" durians.

Durian sold on Nguyen Trong Tuyen street (Phu Nhuan district, Ho Chi Minh City) is advertised by the seller as Thai variety, priced at 250,000 VND/kg - Photo: THAO THUONG

On the afternoon of November 1st, the store only had about 20 small, oval-shaped durians left, each labeled on the stem as Musang King durian, a Malaysian variety grown in Vietnam, priced at 420,000 VND/kg.

"Just yesterday, 300kg of durian was transported from the Mekong Delta, and after selling directly and online for just one day, only this many fruits remained. The price of durian has increased too much. Initially, we didn't dare import any. Unexpectedly, connoisseurs are hunting for out-of-season durian."

"Tonight, about 500kg of durian will continue to be transported to Ho Chi Minh City," a sales employee said.

According to the staff, the store used to sell Ri6 durian for around 120,000 VND/kg; then it increased to 150,000-155,000 VND/kg, Dona durian to 165,000 VND/kg, and Monthong durian to 180,000-190,000 VND/kg.

In early October, Musang King durian was priced at 300,000 VND/kg, then increased to 380,000 VND/kg, and is currently 420,000 VND/kg.

"By the end of the year, off-season durian prices will increase. It wouldn't be surprising if Musang King durian alone could cost over 500,000 VND/kg," the store employee added.

Meanwhile, on Nguyen Trong Tuyen street (Phu Nhuan district), about 30 durians are being sold at a price of 250,000 VND/kg. The seller introduced them as Thai durians grown in Cambodia.

"They were out of stock yesterday, but they just arrived this morning. I searched the whole area and couldn't find durian like this anywhere else. If I don't buy it now, when I come back tonight, there won't be any left," this person said.

Retail prices for all types of durian will continue to rise.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, believes that the sharp increase in durian retail sales is due to the end of the main durian season, resulting in a shortage of durian.

"It can be seen that retail prices of durian will continue to rise, serving both the domestic market and exports targeting Chinese consumers as the year draws to a close, with increased demand for gifts during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year)," Mr. Nguyen said.

According to data from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in the first 10 months of this year, Vietnam's durian exports reached over 3 billion USD, a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This is also the highest export level for durian ever recorded.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gia-sau-rieng-tang-nhu-gia-vang-co-loai-tang-gan-nua-trieu-dong-kg-20241101154421862.htm