Where will Vietnamese durian go?

To build durian - an agricultural product known as the "king of fruits" - into a national brand, it is necessary to review the entire production - export system, control and strictly handle fraudulent acts, use of banned substances... The Minister of Agriculture and Environment said that "if durian is determined to be a national strategic product, there must also be adequate investment".

The value chain still has many bottlenecks

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD), over the past decade, the durian growing area nationwide has increased nearly 6 times, currently reaching about 180,000 hectares, with an estimated output of 1.5 million tons, making this fruit a key fruit in the agricultural production structure.

In 2024, Vietnam's durian exports will achieve impressive growth, becoming a staple in the fruit and vegetable industry. Output and export turnover are estimated at about 1.5 million tons, with a planting area of ​​nearly 180,000 hectares, 6 times higher than in 2015. Export turnover will reach a record of more than 3.3 billion USD, up 43.2% compared to 2023 and accounting for nearly 50% of the country's total fruit and vegetable export turnover.

Durian used to be a billion-dollar fruit of Vietnam, but now the price is plummeting and exports are sluggish.

Also in 2024, China is the main consumer market, accounting for nearly 91% of Vietnam's total durian export turnover, reaching more than 2.9 billion USD in 2024. Other markets such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Cambodia also recorded significant growth in durian imports from Vietnam.

However, in the first 4 months of this year, durian exports witnessed a sudden decline when the total turnover only reached about 120-130 million USD, equivalent to 35,000 tons - only 20% of the plan. This is the most serious decline in the past 3 years and has dragged down the value of the entire industry. The reason is that since the beginning of the year, China has strengthened control over the quality of imported durian. Tightened standards on quarantine, cadmium residue, O-yellow and traceability have caused many substandard shipments to be returned, creating a break in the consumption chain.

At the Conference on “Sustainable Development of the Durian Industry” held on May 24 in Dak Lak , Mr. Vo Quan Huy - Director of Huy Long An Company Limited - commented that Vietnam has an advantage in seasonality (year-round supply) but faces difficulties in quality control. The loose management of codes for growing areas and packaging facilities not only affects traceability but also reduces the reputation of Vietnamese durian in the international market.

Mr. Mai Xuan Thin - General Director of Red Dragon Company Limited - said: "If we want to develop sustainably, Vietnam cannot go it alone". He suggested that we need to cooperate with countries with developed industries such as Thailand to build regional brands together, creating a solid competitive position in large markets such as China.

The durian industry value chain still has many bottlenecks. Illustration photo: IT.

Mr. Vu Phi Ho - representative of Sarita Enterprise - warned of the situation of "mixing good and bad" when many unqualified packaging facilities are still operating openly. This can seriously affect the overall reputation of the industry.

Mr. Ho proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment needs to have solutions to update data on growing areas, build unified standards in the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and develop the durian industry not only from the export perspective.

“Developing growing areas must go hand in hand with improving production capacity, otherwise it will become a big risk. If the goods are returned and sold to our people, that is not sustainable development. We must respect both domestic and international consumers,” Mr. Ho said, adding that only when the value chain is transparent, quality is consistent, and business ethics are put first, will Vietnamese durian truly conquer the global market.

Adequate investment in national key products

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Do Duc Duy - Minister of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) - said that the quality of Vietnamese durian is currently comparable to that of Thailand or Malaysia - two countries considered "durian powerhouses" in the region. However, in order for Vietnamese durian to compete firmly in the international market, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment emphasized that "quality and safety are necessary, but not enough". Products need to be standardized in terms of design, presentation and packaging to create a strong impression from appearance, color to brand in the international market.

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment said that adequate investment is needed to develop durian into a national brand. Illustration photo: IT.

Minister Do Duc Duy proposed that in the long term, it is necessary to form a sustainable durian industry chain - from production, processing, consumption to building a national brand. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is ready to "order" research institutes, universities and enterprises to carry out scientific and technological projects to serve the goal of upgrading this industry.

“If durian is identified as a national strategic product, there must be adequate investment,” the Minister of Agriculture and Environment emphasized, calling on the business community to proactively propose specific programs and projects to quickly materialize them into action programs.

According to Thanh Huyen (TPO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/sau-rieng-viet-nam-se-di-dau-ve-dau-post324849.html