China spends nearly 3 billion USD to buy Vietnamese durian

China imported 1.56 million tons of durian in 2024, valued at roughly USD 7 billion, up 9.4% in volume and 4% in value from 2023, according to the General Administration of Customs of China. Over the past year, Thailand has continued to be the primary supplier of durian to the Chinese market. More specifically, China imported nearly 810,000 tons of durian from Thailand, which was valued at over USD 4 billion. This represents a 13% decrease in volume and 12% decrease in value when compared to 2023.

China experienced a substantial increase in its imports of durian from Vietnam in 2024, with a 49% increase in volume and a 38% increase in value compared to 2023. The total volume of imports was 738,000 tons, and the value was USD 2.94 billion. At USD 4,957 per ton in 2024, the average import price of durian into China was a 4.9% decrease from 2023. Notably, the average import prices of durian from the Philippines and Vietnam decreased, while the average import price from Thailand increased.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs' statistics suggest that durian played a substantial role in the overall expansion of the fruit and vegetable sector in 2024. Consequently, durian exports comprised 45% of the total fruit and vegetable export value, with a 43% increase from 2023 to USD 3.21 billion. In 2024, the export value of a variety of other fruits and vegetables increased in comparison to 2023. These items include coconuts (up 61%), bananas (up 20%), mangoes (up 47%), jackfruit (up 22%), pistachios (up 77%), almonds (up 65%), and jalapeno peppers (up 15%). Conversely, the export value of dragon fruit and passion fruit respectively decreased by 15% and 23%.