Exports face difficulties, durian prices drop sharply

According to records, for more than 10 days now, Tien Giang province has entered the main durian harvest season. However, this year, durian growers are less happy due to low durian prices.

A durian orchard in Tam Binh commune, Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province is purchasing durian from gardeners.

At noon on May 12, from My Tho City, we traveled along provincial route 864 to Cai Be District. Along both sides of route 864 (through Cai Lay District), we recorded many individual durian selling points with prices ranging from 35,000 - 50,000 VND/kg.

Although it is the peak harvest season, the warehouses and stores that purchase durian for export are not as busy as usual. Many warehouses are closed, some are still operating, but the purchasing output is not much.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (Binh Chanh Dong Hamlet, Tam Binh Commune, Cai Lay District) planted 4 hectares of Ri 6 durian. Two days ago, his garden harvested 2 tons of fruit, selling in bulk at 42,000 VND/kg. Mr. Nam shared: “The price of durian this year is much lower than last year. With this selling price, my family makes very little profit because the investment cost for durian is very high. We cannot wait for the price to increase when selling durian, and even if we wait, with this situation, the price will hardly increase.”

According to Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province Luu Van Phi, in the first months of the year, the export of fruit products decreased compared to the same period; in which the main impact was on durian products.

According to updated data, there are currently 17 product codes for exporting durian to foreign markets, mainly the Chinese market. Previously, the number of centers for testing and inspecting exported durian was limited; recently, a number of centers have been added.

However, the demand for sample testing has decreased significantly compared to before. According to information from businesses, the number of containers passing through Chinese border gates is currently around 10 - 15 containers/day (the same period in 2024 was 200 - 300 containers/day).

This is what causes the price of durian in Cai Be and Cai Lay districts to drop sharply. The current price of durian sold in bulk ranges from 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg.

Ngu Hiep Commune, Cai Lay District is the durian capital of the province. Although it is in the peak harvest season, durian growers are “suffering from durian in common”. According to Nguyen Hong Thuong, Chairman of Ngu Hiep Commune People’s Committee, the whole commune has about 1,400 hectares of durian.

Currently, farmers in the area have harvested about 60% of the main durian crop. However, due to the impact of the export situation, the selling price of durian is very low compared to previous years. Specifically, Monthong durian (Thai) in the garden is bought in bulk by traders at a price of 50,000 - 55,000 VND/kg, Ri 6 durian is about 40,000 - 45,000 VND/kg. At this price, gardeners do not make much profit. If any garden has a bad harvest, the gardener will not have enough money to pay for agricultural supplies.

In Cai Be district, durian prices have also dropped sharply. According to records, Thai durian is currently purchased by warehouses at around VND70,000/kg, Ri 6 durian is around VND50,000/kg. Mr. Nguyen Van Manh (My Loi A commune, Cai Be district) grows 5 hectares of Thai durian, and will be harvested in about a week.

However, at this time, Mr. Manh is "sitting on hot coals" when the price of durian is too low. Mr. Manh shared: "This year is the second crop of durian fruit harvested from my family's durian garden. After only one crop, the price of durian has dropped so much. Now that it is almost time to sell, I just hope that the price of durian will increase in the next few days."

EXPORTS STILL DIFFICULT

Currently, our country’s durian is mainly exported to the Chinese market. This market’s tightening of quality control with “technical barriers” has made durian exports difficult.

Buy durian.

Mr. Nguyen Van Gia Bao, Executive Director of Huynh Nuong Company Limited (Cai Lay District) said that in recent days, durian in the province has entered the main season so the output is abundant. However, this year, the main season durian output is at a relatively moderate level, not as much as in previous years.

Currently, the price of Thai durian grade A is purchased at 70,000 - 72,000 VND/kg, Ri 6 durian grade A is about 50,000 - 52,000 VND/kg. The price of durian at the garden is lower than at the warehouse by 10,000 - 15,000 VND/kg. The low price of durian is partly due to the fact that the Thai market also has goods. At this price, if any garden has a bad harvest, there will be no profit.

Currently, exporting durian is still difficult. However, exporting is also more favorable than before due to the addition of a number of testing centers. Exporting enterprises have also been proactive in meeting technical barriers from China. Currently, before purchasing durian, enterprises will test samples in the garden. Currently, on average, enterprises purchase about 20 tons of durian per day.

Mr. Vo Tan Loi, Chairman of the Tien Giang Province Durian Association, said that this is the lowest price of durian in 3 years since this fruit was officially exported to the Chinese market. Compared to the same period last year, the price of durian is only half. With this price, gardeners still make a profit, but very little. Currently, durian in the West is in the main season, the prolonged situation makes durian growers worried.

A durian stall along provincial road 864.

The sharp drop in durian prices is due to China - Vietnam's largest durian consumer market - tightening its control procedures since the beginning of the year. This market has increased inspection measures related to O-yellow and Cadmium.

Shipments found to contain these substances will not be cleared. The yellow O substance that I dipped in chemicals to make the fruit look beautiful, now that I don't dip it anymore, it won't be contaminated. Therefore, the problem of yellow O contamination has basically been resolved.

Currently, the only problem that cannot be solved immediately is the issue of cadmium contamination. “In Cai Lay area alone, there are hundreds of purchasing enterprises. However, when I surveyed, I found that the number of purchasing enterprises is not much due to the extremely difficult export situation to China,” Mr. Loi added.

According to Mr. Vo Tan Loi, in order to develop the durian industry in the long term, it is imperative that the products brought to the market are clean. The Association is working with the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Tien Giang province to test a clean durian cultivation model. This model is being implemented in Cai Be and Cai Lay districts.

The Association hopes that next season will be fruitful. If the durian fruit of the model is no longer contaminated with Cadmium, the model will be expanded. In addition, the Association encourages member cooperatives to use fertilizers and pesticides of clear origin. At the same time, cooperatives should ask the Department of Agriculture and specialized agencies to provide additional technical support to gardeners to aim at producing clean products without residues of prohibited substances.

A. PHUONG - T. DAT

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202505/xuat-khau-gap-kho-gia-sau-rieng-giam-sau-1042654/