Vietnam’s durian exports earn over USD 3.2 billion in the first 10 months of 2025. Illustrative photo.
Customs data show that in the first nine months of 2025, durian exports generated nearly USD 2.77 billion. In September alone, export turnover surged to USD 972 million, up 44.6 per cent against September 2024 and marking the highest monthly level on record.
China remained the dominant market, spending USD 960 million in September, equivalent to 98.8 per cent of Vietnam’s durian export value that month.
By the end of September, shipments to China reached USD 2.59 billion, accounting for 93.6 per cent of the national total.
Other markets also posted strong growth year-on-year: Hong Kong rose 83.7 per cent, Taiwan 65 per cent, the US 27.5 per cent, Canada 46.2 per cent, and Japan and Australia grew 17.7 per cent and 33.2 per cent, respectively.
Exports to Malaysia stood out, soaring nearly 657 per cent in the first nine months.
According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, estimated durian export earnings in the first 10 months amounted to over USD 3.2 billion, roughly equal to the full-year value of 2024.
Nguyen said the Central Highlands region has reached the end of its harvest season and off-season durians from the Mekong Delta will follow. As off-season output is limited, exports may rise by only around USD 200 million to USD 300 million in the final two months.
This would bring total 2025 durian export revenue to USD 3.4 billion to USD 3.5 billion, projected to be the highest in history.
The result is seen as surprising given several setbacks earlier this year. In early 2025, China tightened inspections on Vietnam’s durian imports for auramine O and cadmium contamination. Some shipments failed quarantine and food-safety checks and had to be returned. Exporters later paused shipments to adjust their processes, which caused export turnover and farm-gate prices to fall.
Durian exports only began recovering in June. At that time, experts forecast annual export earnings of just USD 2.5 billion to USD 2.7 billion.
In late October, nearly 2,000 durian containers from Dak Lak Province were stranded at warehouses, factories and border gates after testing laboratories halted operations for maintenance. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment intervened to resolve the issue.
Vietnam currently has about 148,000 hectares of durian under cultivation, with expected output exceeding 1.5 million tonnes this year.
Nguyen noted that despite difficulties, surging output is helping export turnover surpass last year’s record. Although prices have dropped compared with 2024, larger shipment volumes are driving revenue to new highs.
