Western durian prices continue to fall

On April 11th, observations in Cai Lay district ( Tien Giang province) - one of the largest durian-growing areas in the country - showed that durian prices had dropped sharply compared to a month ago.

Most durian purchasing centers in Cai Lay, Cai Be districts and Cai Lay town, Tien Giang province, are quoting Monthong durian grade A (2.7 compartments; 1.9-5.2 kg) at warehouse prices of 113,000-115,000 VND per kg; grade B (2.5 compartments; 1.7-5.7 kg) at 93,000-95,000 VND.

Compared to the price about 10 days ago, the price of durian has decreased by approximately 100,000 VND per kilogram.

Currently, the purchase price of Ri6 durian at orchards in Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province, is only around 65,000 VND/kg. Ri6 durian is currently being purchased by wholesalers at 83,000 - 87,000 VND/kg for grade A (2.7 compartments, 1.9 - 5.2kg); and 70,000 - 72,000 VND/kg for grade B (2.5 compartments, 1.7 - 5.7kg), a decrease of about half compared to the peak price about 10 days ago.

As a seasonal fruit, durian prices can fluctuate depending on the season and supply. When durian is in season and supply is abundant, prices may decrease. Conversely, when durian is scarce, prices may increase.

Observations in the durian-growing area of Ngũ Hiệp commune (Cai Lậy district) show that this year, due to unfavorable weather conditions, durian trees suffered from leaf burn, leading to fruit failure and crop losses for farmers. Despite high prices, many farmers have no durian to sell. Recently, information about 30 batches of durian exported in 2023 being contaminated with heavy metals has also made purchasing units more cautious and stricter in their buying practices.

Domestic durian prices are forecast to continue falling as the peak season approaches. However, according to traders, the price is unlikely to drop below 30,000 VND per kilogram due to hot weather and drought, resulting in lower harvest yields than in previous years.

According to a leader of the Cai Lay District People's Committee, durian in the area is currently in its off-season. At one point, Monthong durian reached a peak of 230,000 VND/kg, the price at wholesale purchasing centers. It's possible that at that time, wholesalers lacked sufficient supply to fill containers, hence the high purchase price. Currently, although durian prices in Cai Lay district have decreased, they remain high, allowing farmers to reap substantial profits.

Durian prices are falling sharply.

In Cai Be district, durian prices have also been falling sharply in recent days. According to a durian wholesaler in My Duc Dong commune, Cai Be district, Ri 6 durian is currently priced at an average of 73,000 - 88,000 VND/kg, while the price of Monthong durian has not yet been updated due to a lack of supply.

This year, due to unfavorable weather conditions, most durian growing areas in Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces suffered from leaf blight, resulting in low yields. Furthermore, some farmers proactively removed fruit before the dry season to protect their trees, leading to a low overall durian production in the Mekong Delta provinces at this time.

In 2023, Vietnam exported $2.3 billion worth of durian to various markets, with China accounting for 87%. This year, exports of this agricultural product could reach $3.5 billion if China soon approves the official export of frozen durian.

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