Le Anh Trung, chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, said on October 24 that an urgent petition had been sent to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Dak Lak People’s Committee, seeking support to resolve the export disruption.
Since October 11, all designated testing facilities have suspended operations for system maintenance, halting export inspections and certifications. The shutdown has caused a severe backlog at warehouses, along transport routes, and near border gates, coinciding with the province’s 20 to 30-day peak harvest season.
Many companies have stopped buying fruit, prices have fallen sharply, and farmers risk seeing ripe durians rot in their orchards. Storage, transport, and refrigeration costs have also surged, placing heavy pressure on producers and exporters.
“This situation not only affects thousands of farmers but could also damage the reputation of Vietnam’s durian industry and national image,” the association warned.
The association urged authorities to urgently resume testing, prioritise Central Highlands samples, fast-track end-of-season checks, and temporarily authorise qualified local laboratories to maintain export flow and support affected growers and businesses.
In recent days, durian trading in Dak Lak, one of Vietnam’s largest durian-producing provinces, has stalled completely, with falling prices, shuttered collection hubs, and suspended transactions, threatening both export markets and industry credibility.