With exports decimated by China’s new auramine O testing requirement, durian prices at the farm gate in the Mekong Delta have plummeted by 60-70% to VND47,000 (US$1.86) per kilogram.
Grade A, or highest quality, Ri 6 durian is being bought at VND62,000 per kilogram and grade B at VND47,000. Grade A and B Monthong variety sell for VND100,000 and VND80,000.
Thanh, a durian farmer in Tien Giang province, said he has sold a third of his off-season harvest and plans to sell the rest when prices recover.
Thien, who grows the fruit on half a hectare in the same province, sold his harvest at the current low prices.
“At these prices, farmers make very little profit since off-season harvests often yield 30-40% fewer fruits than in the main season,” he said.
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Durians purchased by traders in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang early in 2025. Photo by Manh Khuong |
Khuong, a trader who buys durian in the delta, said exports of the fruit have not recovered since China unveiled tough new import standards early last month that include testing for auramine O, or basic yellow 2, a potentially carcinogenic chemical.
This has caused delays in customs clearance of durian shipments and a sharp drop in prices.
Many traders are canceling large purchase contracts they previously signed with farmers despite already paying deposits, he said.
But things are expected to look up this month as exporters are completing the required tests at the nine centers in Vietnam recognized by China.
Fruit and vegetable exports reached a record $7.15 billion last year after rising by 27.6% from 2023.
To sustain the growth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s import-export department advises farmers, cooperatives and businesses to work together to enhance quality and increase the presence of Vietnamese brands in the global market.
