Durian prices plunge to below $2 per kilogram at farms but consumers still pay triple at stores

Three weeks ago, I went to the supermarket and bought a durian that weighed nearly 3 kilograms for VND390,000. A friend of mine from the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang told me that at that time, the fruit was only sold at around VND45,000-60,000 per kilogram at the farm gate. That means prices rose nearly three times as it moved from the farm to the supermarket shelf.

And that does not even take into account the fact that the highest-grade durians are usually packed and exported overseas first, leaving the domestic market with lower-quality ones. Yet, when they reach local consumers, their prices have increased way too much. It is really a hard reality to accept.

Reader Nguyen.cattuong

The comment was left on an article about how durian prices have recently plummeted. Specifically, Ri6 durians sell for only VND35,000-40,000 per kilogram at the farm gate, which is just one-third of the prices seen a year ago. The Monthong variety has also fallen by a lot, now ranging from VND60,000 to VND70,000 per kilogram. Many traders have stopped buying the fruit and the ones who still do are only buying in small quantities to sell in the domestic market.

Reader Huy Trinh shared the same frustration:

"Many times, we hear that prices of farm products like durian, jackfruit, or dragon fruit are declining sharply. But in the end, local consumers hardly benefit because the price drop is not noticeable. Not to mention, the best-quality products are exported, while only second-grade goods are sold in the local market. Vietnam is an agricultural country, but honestly, our vegetables, fruits, and produce are not cheap at all compared to the average income of the people."

Reader Nguyenvanthin said:

"I see that durians are still being sold at VND100,00 per kilogram in HCMC wet markets. So no matter how much prices decrease at orchards, farmers and consumers are the only ones who lose while traders and retailers keep making big profits."

Reader Bonbi chimed in:

"For many years now, I have stopped eating local durian and mangosteen because their prices are too high. In reality, farmers and traders mostly focus on exports and do not seem to care much about the local market. Since business is all about making the most profit, of course they would prefer to sell to foreign markets."

Reader Duy Nam called for changes:

"It is time to change the way we think about agriculture in Vietnam, especially when it comes to the middlemen who buy and distribute farm products. When traders are not properly managed, they can force farmers to sell at low prices and then raise the price for consumers to make a profit.

Also, focusing too much on exporting and ignoring the local market is a double-edged sword. Every year, there are campaigns to 'rescue' farm products when prices crash, but why does no one ask why local consumers still have to pay high prices even during those times?"

What are your thoughts on this topic?

*These opinions were translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.