HCMC – Durian prices in the Mekong Delta have dropped sharply, with RI6 varieties falling around 60% over the past 40 days, pushing growers into losses amid export difficulties and increased competition from Thailand.
Buying prices for RI6 durian on April 27 were quoted at VND45,000–47,000 per kilogram for grade A and around VND30,000 per kilogram for grade B, according to local collectors.
Thai durian prices also declined by 50–60% over the same period but remained significantly higher, with grade A at about VND100,000 per kilogram and grade B at VND80,000 per kilogram.
Vo Tan Loi, chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, said farm-gate prices for RI6 had fallen to VND25,000–30,000 per kilogram, below production costs of around VND35,000 per kilogram, resulting in losses of VND5,000–10,000 per kilogram for growers. Thai durian farmers, by contrast, continued to earn profits of about VND15,000–25,000 per kilogram.
The price decline was driven by tighter controls on cadmium contamination, which have disrupted exports to China, as well as the temporary suspension of several certified testing laboratories, Loi said.
At the same time, Thailand has entered its peak harvest season and is shipping large volumes to China, benefiting from stable quality and faster customs clearance.
Vietnam’s durian sector is targeting export revenue of US$4 billion to US$4.5 billion in 2026, after earning nearly US$3.9 billion last year.
