Chinese traders eager to buy Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s durian from Laos

The company’s 1,200 hectares of durian in Laos has many five-year old trees, each producing 20-30 fruits of between two and four kilograms.

Around 200-300 hectares are set to yield ripe fruits in August, but traders have already been inquiring, starting last month, the company’s chairman, Doan Nguyen Duc, said.

"We have yet to sell because we are waiting for better prices as harvest season nears," he told VnExpress in an interview.

He expected the company to earn revenues of VND200 billion (US$7.9 million) from 2,000 tons of durian this year and possibly VND1 trillion next year.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai has hired 10 durian experts from Thailand as consultants, and they will visit every year to ensure quality.

Duc said the Chinese durian market is set to become more competitive with Malaysia successfully negotiating a deal to export fresh durian to it.

But there is potential for export to other markets such as the U.S., India and Japan, he said.

In Vietnam, his company has 60 ha of durian that are set to fruit for a second year.

It eyes revenues of VND7.7 trillion ($302 million) this year, up 20.3% from last year, mainly from durian, banana and pork.