Vietnamese durian has been officially exported since last year, and the Chinese market has responded favourably, buying dozens of containers of fruit daily.

Pingxiang - China's largest durian import port in the Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) - used to handle durian imported mainly from Thailand. However, since entering the Chinese market last year, fresh durian from Vietnam has been exported strongly here and is quickly catching up with Thai products.

Vietnamese durian at a promotional event in Tianjin (China) on January 13. Photo: VCG

Nong Liqing, General Director of an import-export company based in Pingxiang City, which imports dozens of containers daily, said that by this December, the company had imported more than 1,600 containers of durian. "This year, we began importing many durians from Vietnam and Thai goods," Mr. Nong said.

Fu Jing, a merchant in Guizhou province, has been doing the imported fruit business for over 10 years. Recently, Vietnamese durian has also become her new choice. "Vietnamese durians cover the market gap by ripening in the second half of the year, while Thai durians typically ripen in the first half," she stated.
Fang Chuangquan, a fruit seller in Pingxiang, also said he started importing Vietnamese durian last year. "This type is the best-selling among imported fruits. We sell it in person and online. Then, they are shipped around the country," the trader said.

China's demand for durian is very large. Last year, this market imported 825,000 tons of durian. The turnover of this product ranks first among China's imported fruits, reaching 4.03 billion USD, according to customs data.

In 2022, Vietnamese durian - with a long harvest season and lower prices - will also have access to the Chinese market under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework. This country is currently Vietnam's main durian export market. Data from China Customs shows that in 10 months, durian exports to this country reached nearly 1.94 billion USD, an increase of 31 times over the same period last year.

Wang Zhengbo, President of a fruit company based in Guangxi, said his company last year signed contracts with Vietnamese farms covering an area of nearly 3,000 hectares. "We plan to import more than 3,000 containers, equivalent to 60,000 tons of Vietnamese durian this year," Wang explained.
Dong Quang Hai, a Vietnamese businessman who has grown durian for decades, also said durian is one of the most popular fruits in China, with high consumer demand and huge market potential.

Employees label durian for export to China at a factory in Dak Lak on September 15. Photo: Xinhua

Pingxiang has become the busiest and most convenient land port for exchanging goods across the border between China and Vietnam. This is also the largest land port exporting Vietnamese fruit to China, with nearly 300 trucks transporting durian, dragon fruit, jackfruit and other fruits through daily customs procedures at peak times, Tang Shan, Director of Pingxiang Port Customs, said. According to him, durian has recently been off-season, but more than 30 containers from Vietnam are imported through the port every day.

Data from Nanning Customs (China) shows that in the first 10 months of the year, the value of fruit imported from Vietnam through Pingxiang port was 11.71 billion yuan (1.64 billion USD), an increase of nearly 638%. The value of durian imports through this port alone reached 11.19 billion yuan (1.57 billion USD), an increase of more than 3,000% over the same period in 2022.

In addition to Pingxiang, Hekou port in Yunnan province has become a famous durian import port in China.

Yao Qi, a policewoman at the Hekou immigration border inspection station, said the significant increase in durian imports has attracted many people to the port to set up branches or offices in the district where the port is located.

On average, the port has about 700 vehicles entering and exiting daily. According to Yao, the country has established a green channel for quick customs clearance of agricultural products and by-products and continuously optimizes customs clearance. "Convenient customs clearance process at the port is also an important reason for choosing Vietnamese durian," Ms Fu Jing assessed.

China's preference for Vietnamese durian helps the price of this product remain high. Currently, the price of Vietnamese durian sold at the garden for grade 1 goods is 130,000 VND for Monthong and 110,000 VND for Ri 6. Meanwhile, grade 2 and 3 goods are priced at 60,000-90,000 VND per kilogram.

Also read: Vietnam’s durian exports to China targeted at US$1 billion this year

Thailand faces tougher durian export war in China’s market from Vietnam and the Philippines

Vietnam’s durian exports to China targeted at US$1 billion this year