Vietnam targets $4bn in durian exports in 2026

Vietnam’s durian export value in the eight-month period increased 28 percent from the same period last year, according to the ministry.

Exports to China alone reached $1.85 billion, up 30 percent.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Dang Ngoc Diep said the ministry has been implementing a range of coordinated measures to promote durian exports.

The ministry has sent working teams to meet with local authorities, particularly in major durian-growing areas such as the Central Highlands, southeastern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta, to address bottlenecks.

Since July 1, the ministry has implemented traceability through its digital transformation system, helping strengthen customer confidence, particularly among international buyers.

Commercial counselors from the U.S. and China have praised the ministry’s implementation of agricultural traceability for the first time, Diep said.

The ministry also submitted a proposal to the government for the issuance of a resolution aimed at removing obstacles related to the issuance of codes for growing areas and packing facilities and decentralizing the authority to issue such codes to commune-level administrations.

The measure has been welcomed by farmers and businesses as a practical solution, he said.

In August, ministry leaders also traveled to China for talks and working sessions.

Most recently, Chinese authorities approved an additional 567 codes for growing areas and packing facilities.

Vietnam now has 1,599 registered growing-area codes and 281 eligible packing facilities.

The approval of a large number of additional growing areas and packing facilities will help expand Vietnam’s capacity to supply durian to China through official channels, particularly as the fruit enters its peak harvest season in the Central Highlands.

As for testing laboratories, China had approved 45 laboratories for cadmium testing and 42 for Auramine O testing as of September 3. Their combined capacity is estimated at 10,000–13,000 samples per day.

Overall, the testing laboratory system is now basically capable of meeting demand, including during the peak harvest season, Diep said.

“These are the results we have achieved, and we are continuing to implement measures to ensure durian exports this year reach at least last year’s $3.85 billion, or possibly higher, at around $4 billion,” Diep said.

Vietnam seeks to expand durian export markets

To achieve the target and resolve remaining bottlenecks, the ministry will continue stepping up trade promotion and diversifying export markets, Diep said.

It will continue negotiations to expand market access and increase market share in potential markets such as India, Australia and New Zealand.

“In July, India agreed to allow Vietnam to export durian to its market. This is a billion-person market with huge demand, particularly among high-income consumers. We are working to expand durian exports to India,” Diep said.

The ministry will also step up trade promotion, reorganize production and develop infrastructure in concentrated raw-material areas linked to processing, storage, consumption and exports.

It will also connect farmers, cooperatives and businesses while encouraging companies to reinvest in raw-material areas and gradually build the Vietnamese durian brand.

The ministry will encourage businesses to invest more in processing and storage facilities to maintain the high quality of durians and meet the increasingly demanding needs of international customers, Diep said.

The ministry will also continue expanding, consolidating and improving the capacity of its laboratory system, while opening eligible laboratories to conduct testing.