Cheap durian is just substandard produce.

Recently, posts on social media have shown many people in the Mekong Delta selling durian at cheap prices along national highways, raising suspicions among many. Mobile durian vendors display signs advertising prices at 30,000 VND/kg, an "unprecedentedly low" price on the market. However, for durian farmers, 30,000 VND/kg is considered normal because these are rejected, unsuitable fruits for export.

For example, in Binh Thuan , it's common for dragon fruit exported at over 15,000 VND per kilogram to fetch only 1,000-3,000 VND per kilogram for lower-quality fruit. In Da Mi (Ham Thuan Bac) and Ta Pua (Tanh Linh, Duc Linh), considered the durian hub of Binh Thuan, in 2024, when the price of grade 1 durian reached 120,000 VND per kilogram, some varieties were still selling for only 20,000 VND per kilogram. Mr. Tran Ngoc Thien, from Me Pu commune, who has 5 hectares of durian trees in Ta Pua, said: There are many different durian varieties such as Ri6, Sau Huu, Mongthong, milk durian... corresponding to different prices for each type and according to grades a, b, c or grade 1, grade 2, grade 3. For example, Ri6 grade a currently sells for 55,000 – 60,000 VND/kg at the farm, grade b is at 35,000 – 40,000 VND/kg and grade c is below 30,000 VND/kg. According to Mr. Thien, durians being offered at 30,000 VND/kg are grade c, which farmers call "rejected" because these are durians that ripened and fell off the tree, or durians that were nearly ripe but fell off due to rain and wind, and durians with only 1.5 segments or few segments that do not meet the standard weight and size for export. There's also a lower-priced but slightly more expensive type called "pig durian," which refers to large durians weighing over 5-6 kg. These are less commonly consumed in the market and are therefore sold only to factories that process them into ice cream, food products, and other additives.

Visiting a durian tree that's ripe for the first time.

The province currently has an estimated 2,500 hectares of durian trees of various types planted in districts from Duc Linh to Ham Thuan Bac. The areas with the largest concentration of specialized durian cultivation are Ta Pua in Duc Linh and Tanh Linh districts, and La Da and Da Mi in Ham Thuan Bac district. Binh Thuan durian is typically in its peak season from June to September, 1-2 months later than the peak season in the Southwestern region but 1-2 months earlier than the Central Highlands, depending on the weather each year. Currently, in the specialized durian growing areas, some ripe fruits have appeared, but the quantity is not yet significant, only about 3-5% of the total orchard area. Binh Thuan durian is favored by the market for its sweetness, aroma, and superior taste compared to some other regions. Besides proper care and fertilization, the climate and soil in Ta Pua and Da Mi are very suitable for durian cultivation.

Ms. Bui Thi Nguyet, a farmer specializing in buying durian directly from orchards in Da Mi village (Tanh Linh district), said: "Most durian growers sell through familiar buyers. Durian farmers, like dragon fruit growers, if they have sufficient financial resources, will proactively invest at the beginning of the season. If they lack funds, buyers will advance the capital for investment, and then they will resell it to the buyers at market price. Recently, with the high price of durian, many domestic durian wholesalers have invested heavily, going directly to orchards to place deposits. This deposit system has two sides; it can sometimes benefit farmers, but without a clear contract, farmers can also suffer because of the deposit money." Ms. Nguyet explained that in 2024, many durian orchard owners from Da Mi all the way to Bao Loc city ( Lam Dong province ) were lured by promises from traders in other provinces, receiving deposits and buying at prices significantly higher than the market rate to ensure sufficient supply for export. However, when durian prices are high, those who placed deposits don't collect the goods, and the orchard owners who received deposits are afraid to sell to others for fear of being penalized. They wait until durian prices calm down before traders start collecting the goods, causing losses for durian growers. Furthermore, durian is harvested in batches; some orchards may have two harvests depending on the amount of fruit ready for harvest, while others may have three to four harvests. Therefore, when the market price is high or demand is slow and exports are not yet possible, traders resort to tactics to prolong the collection period, easily causing losses for the growers. Those in the industry call this the "deposit trap"...

The current price of durian of grade A varieties is averaging from 50,000 to 120,000 VND/kg, depending on the type. This price level allows durian growers to make a moderate profit. Many economic experts consider the current durian price to be stable. Vietnam's durian export market is facing fierce competition from several countries in the region that have increased their durian harvesting area. In Binh Thuan, most durian-growing areas are applying the VietGAP program, resulting in a high percentage of export-standard products, making them competitive with durian-growing regions in other countries.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/sau-rieng-gia-re-chi-la-hang-dat-130127.html