According to China’s customs service, in the first two months of the year, China spent over $120 million to import 22,980 tons of durians in a whole, down 56.8 percent in volume and 57.8 percent in value compared to last year.

Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines are the four main durian suppliers to China, with Vietnam and Thailand dominating.

However, Vietnam’s durian market share in China dropped sharply to 37 percent in the first two months of 2025, from 61.7 percent the previous year, when Vietnam became the top supplier.

By contrast, Thailand’s share surged from 36.9 percent to 62.3 percent, overtaking Vietnam to reclaim the lead.

The sharp decline in durian exports from both Thailand and Vietnam to China stems from China’s stricter quality checks, particularly for heavy metals and Auramine O.

Vietnam’s durian exports have faced warnings from Chinese customs about fraudulent growing area codes, non-compliance with plant quarantine, and food safety regulations.

As a result, many domestic businesses have had to halt exports to complete documentation, as China now inspects 100 percent of import shipments related to Auramine O.

Consequently, domestic durian prices have plummeted. Ri6 and Monthong durian is sold at VND35,000-120,000 per kg at gardens. During the off-season last year, the prices hit a record high of nearly VND200,000 per kg.

By 2025, Vietnam’s durian cultivation area had grown to about 169,000 hectares, with an expected output of 1.55 million tons. Besides domestic consumption, China remains the primary export market, which consumes over 90 percent of Vietnam’s durian export value.

Malaysia is ambitiously eyeing China’s market, offering incentives for durian cultivation. Local newspapers quoted Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, as reporting that 413.61 tons of fresh durian, valued at RM24.84 million ($5.29 million), were exported to China from August to December last year.

Malaysian durian are now available in 16 Chinese regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, and Chengdu. 

Notably, China’s durian market is growing steadily and is forecast to reach $10 billion in value soon. The country consumes about 91 percent of global durian, with supplies mainly from Thailand and Vietnam. However, China is actively seeking new suppliers to diversify its import market.

Laos’ strong rise

In this context, Laos is emerging as a potential competitor. Recently, Attapeu province authorities granted investment rights to three domestic firms to grow durian commercially on an area of over 273 hectares.

Laos aims to become a durian supplier to China, where demand continues to soar. Last October, Chinese companies met with Laos’ National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss forming a Lao Durian Business Association and a durian research center.

These initiatives aim to build a systematic management system for variety selection, cultivation techniques, quality control and logistics, aiming at sustainable exports to the Chinese market.

The Lao government has allocated 12,000 hectares of agricultural land to Chinese firms to develop specialized durian export zones.

Beyond expanding durian cultivation in Laos, China’s General Administration of Customs completed inspections of durian plantations and packing facilities in Indonesia in March 2025 to assess export potential.

With an annual output of 1.83 million tons, Indonesia is among the world’s largest durian producers. Its durian industry is tackling logistics and quarantine issues to enter the Chinese market.

In Sulawesi province, the total registered durian cultivation area has reached 3,056 hectares in five localities, with Parigi Moutong, Poso, and Sigi deemed ready for export.

This means that besides traditional rivals (Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines), Vietnam’s durian will have to compete fiercely with Indonesia and Laos in China.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, said durian is a key crop with many advantages for Vietnam, bringing significant export value. Recently, Vietnam’s frozen durian was approved for export to China. 

“We need to work seriously and systematically to sustain this vital industry’s growth,” he said. He stressed that non-compliant businesses must urgently rectify their operation to maintain market share in China.

Farmers, cooperatives, and exporters have been warned of the risk of losing the Chinese market if they do not strictly control durian quality, traceability and growing area codes.

Tam An