Thailand faces tougher durian export war in China’s market from Vietnam and the Philippines
Thailand can face tougher competition in exporting durians to China’s market over the next five years as
Visitors to Cai Lay district and Cai Lay town (Tien Giang province) on these days will have a chance to witness the bustling scene of vehicles full of freshly harvested durians moving in and out of the area. The district is known as the "Durian Kingdom" since it is the largest durian growing area in the Mekong Delta.
Farmers transport durians for sale at barns in Cai Lay. Photo: Minh Dam.
Mr. Ha, a durian farmer in hamlet 3, Cam Son commune, Cai Lay district who is harvesting durians, said: "This time, durian is at the high peak of harvest. Output keeps increasing, so prices have decreased compared to last week. Currently, durian is purchased by traders right at the garden for about VND40,000/kg.
“My durian garden is over 20 years old, if it was not affected by salinity in 2020, the yield might have reached 15 tons or more. Last year, the crop failed with no harvest, and this year, it has only recovered more than 50% with a yield of about 10 tons. With the current selling price, I can earn a profit worth VND10,000 -15,000/kg," Ha said.
Nguyen Van Linh, a trader who buys durian in Long Trung commune (Cai Lay district) said: " One week ago, durian was only consumed domestically. As it is now in the main harvest season, the price has decreased compared to a month ago when it stood at about VND55,000-60,000/kg. In particular, price of the early-harvest durian even reaches over VND100,000/kg.
At this time, the fruit is also exported to China but the volume is still small. It is forecasted that the price of durian will increase again in the coming time. According to Mr. Linh, from now to April of the lunar calendar, there is only one more harvest left for durian in Cai Lay then the harvest season will close.
Durian is affected by droughts and salinity in 2020, so the yield cannot reach the maximum. Photo: Minh Dam
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Man, Director of Tien Giang province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2020, the durian area will lose over 3,000ha. Up to now, thanks to the agricultural sector's technical support, especially models of the Southern Fruit Institute, the province's durian areas and fruit quality have quickly recovered.
According to Mr. Man, the durian area of Tien Giang province now has reached about 15,000ha.
Author: Minh Dam
Translated by Trang Nguyen
