After a period of rapid growth, Vietnam’s durian exporters are grappling with delays caused by China’s stringent quality checks and intense competition from Thailand the Philippines and China’s domestic production.
Maintaining market share and ensuring sustainable growth have become urgent priorities.
In the first four months of 2025 Vietnam’s durian exports plummeted to $130 million, a 74% drop from the same period last year, as China, the largest durian market in the world, scaled back imports.
Nguyen Van Thanh, a durian trader in the Mekong Delta, which accounts for a large proportion of Vietnam’s durian output, said most fruits so far this year have failed to meet China’s inspection criteria.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said, to prove to China that Vietnamese durians are safe, many new testing labs need to be set up to keep out fruits containing banned substances, a model that Thailand has developed successfully.
These labs would allow farmers to conduct tests and obtain certification, he said, pointing out that certified orchards would be prioritized by traders and businesses, with products retested at China-approved labs.
Fraudulent practices should be severely penalized to improve the reputation of Vietnamese produce, he said.
“Effective control at source will facilitate smoother negotiations with and customs clearance in China.”
Henry Bui, general director of the China-approved Hoan Vu Inspection Center, explained that cadmium found in durians is primarily from fertilizer.
But sample testing alone would not help prevent contamination, which also requires stricter control over illegal fertilizers, he warned.
If soil is severely contaminated, farmers must undertake remediation, he added.
An official from the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection said authorities have carried out research and assessments and entered into collaborations with local governments to come up with solutions.
Short-term measures including soil remediation to reduce cadmium absorption, raising soil pH with lime or other substances, using precipitants or absorbents for heavy metals, and planting cadmium-absorbing crops as a temporary biological solution.
Farmers are also encouraged to grow high-biomass, short-cycle crops to restore soil and limit cultivation during sensitive periods.
Long-term solutions focus on ensuring proper fertilizer use, enhancing training to ensure farmers use correct types and doses and minimizing accumulation of harmful substances.
Nguyen Dang Nghia, former director of the Soils and Fertilizers Institute, is testing remedial treatments for cadmium-contaminated soil in several localities in the Mekong Delta.
His team uses cadmium-absorbing materials, controls farming processes and optimizes fertilizer use. Their test results will demonstrate soil remediation and compliance with Chinese standards.
Henry Bui also warned of risks from auramine O, an industrial dye used to enhance fruit appearance.
While it does not affect the fruit’s flesh, it can spread through the air and contaminate entire warehouses.
If it is detected, packing facilities must fully disinfect or, in severe cases, even rebuild.
“If businesses and testing centers collaborate with farmers, durians can overcome critical bottlenecks in today’s competitive landscape,” Bui said.
Ha Phuc Mich, chairman of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, said Thailand has a systematic approach to planting zones, soil testing and legal frameworks.
“This is a lesson Vietnam must adopt immediately, not only for durians but also for other key crops, to address root causes rather than resorting to short-term fixes.”
