Durian exports rise to record high

Hoang Son, a merchant in the Central Highlands, said prices of the fruit have risen this year due to stronger demand from China, especially ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival coming in September.

In the first seven months of this year, durian exports were worth $1.6 billion, a 50% year-on-year rise, with 92% going to China.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said this year has been favorable to the durian industry, with prices increasing and fetching farmers huge profits.

Vietnam is also allowed to export frozen durians, which include whole fruit, paste and pulp, to China under protocols signed with it on Aug. 19, he said.

This would reduce the industry's reliance on seasonal harvesting and enable it to make use of misshapen but otherwise good fruits, he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development forecast durian exports to reach $3-3.5 billion this year, with frozen durian accounting for $400-500 million.

Vietnam has 154,000 hectares under durian and grows nearly 1.2 million tons annually.

It exported around 500,000 tons of fresh durian worth $2.3 billion last year, 90% to China.