Thailand’s off-season durian price surges in Vietnam

Kadum durians are sold online in Vietnam. Photo by Cho Thai

Vietnam’s durian season is coming to an end and supply in the domestic market is gradually running out, so traders have turned to imports of off-season durians from Thailand such as Kadum, each weighing 2-4 kg.

According to fruit stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, each day they can only import about 300-500 kg of Kadum durian and sell out in 2-4 days. The price ranges VND250,000-330,000 per kg, 50% higher than Vietnamese durians.

Oanh, the owner of a fruit store in District 5, HCMC, said this is the first time she has imported Kadum durians because they look nice, have a soft and sweet taste, and melt quickly in the mouth.

“I’m selling each Kadum durian for as much as VND950,000. People who love Thai durians will buy this immediately without thinking about the price because this is a limited [Thai] variety,” Oanh said.

Kadum durians stacked on a truck in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Kieu Trung

Kieu Trung in Tan Phu District, HCMC, who just imported 300 kg of Thai durian, said this variety is quite popular. She imported a few hundred kilograms and quickly sold them all.

“What makes this type of durian stand out is its golden, soft, rich and sweet pulp, with no bitterness in the aftertaste. Because supplies are scarce and demand is high, the price of this item has increased by 15% compared to last year,” Trung said.

In addition, according to traders, China has increased purchases of durian from Vietnam and Thailand this year, combined with increased shipping costs, causing fluctuations in the imported durian price to Vietnam. For durians imported by air, the price can go up to VND440,000 per kilogram.

Representatives of wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City said that Thai goods traders at the market did not import this product because the quantity is too small and the price is high. Most of the Thai durians sold on the market come directly from importers, not through markets.

Kadum durians have been grown in Cai Mon Hamlet of the Mekong Delta’s Ben Tre Province since 1995, but due to unsuitable soil, the quality is not as renowned as Thai durians.