Durian exports to China decrease sharply, Minister Do Duc Duy directs a series of solutions

Minister Do Duc Duy meets to discuss removing immediate difficulties and building a sustainable development foundation for the durian industry - Photo: KHUONG TRUNG

On May 8, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy chaired a meeting to listen to a report on the current status of management of growing area codes, traceability, and solutions to enhance durian export activities.

Lack of clear legal basis and quarantine procedures

According to the report, in the first months of 2025, durian exports to China recorded a serious decline, reaching only about 20% of the set plan.

Previously, from late 2024 to early 2025, China applied measures to strengthen inspection of yellow O and cadmium residues in exported durian.

This not only caused the volume and value of durian exported to China to decrease sharply, but also pulled down the domestic durian price to only a quarter of the export price.

In addition to China's tightening of inspections, the decline in exports is also due to the lack of a clear legal basis and quarantine process, and slow state management of food quality and safety.

The granting of growing area codes, approval of packaging facilities and testing systems have yet to keep up with the strict requirements of Chinese buyers.

A durian packaging facility in the West - Photo: T.VY

Establish a durian quality control program

Based on the opinions of specialized agencies, in the immediate future, Minister Do Duc Duy requested the Ministry's units to closely coordinate with the Chinese Customs to handle problems related to technical factors that are significantly hindering export flows.

At the same time, it is necessary to speed up the process of granting growing area codes, approving packaging facilities and laboratories for export. Plant quarantine procedures for durian will be urgently issued, serving as a basis for re-evaluating export potential in 2025 and adjusting plans to suit reality.

In the long term, Mr. Duy requested to improve the legal system related to agricultural export management, with more specific regulations on growing area codes, packaging facilities, and testing and appraisal. Along with that is the construction and standardization of a system of technical standards from production, harvesting, processing to export.

The Ministry also identified restructuring the durian industry towards sustainability as an urgent requirement. The Minister also suggested encouraging the development of deeply processed product lines, especially frozen durian, to increase added value and reduce dependence on the fresh market.

To realize the above solutions, the Minister has proposed to immediately implement a number of key tasks, including developing and issuing a circular guiding the process and procedures for granting codes for growing areas and packaging facilities. Establishing a quality control and food safety program for exported durian.

Mr. Duy suggested that specialized agencies must make more efforts to accompany businesses, stand side by side with localities, coordinate with relevant agencies to protect the market, increase value and gradually build the Vietnamese durian brand on the world agricultural map.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the first four months of 2025, fruit and vegetable exports reached 1.62 billion USD, down 14% over the same period last year.

Vietnam's durian export turnover in the first 4 months of 2025 reached about 130 million USD, with an estimated export volume of 35,000 tons. Meanwhile, in the first 4 months of 2024, the export value of durian reached more than 500 million USD.

Read more Back to Topics

Back to topic

WISDOM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sau-rieng-xuat-khau-sang-trung-quoc-giam-sau-bo-truong-do-duc-duy-chi-dao-loat-giai-phap-20250508164730467.htm