Dong Nai promotes durian exports

Dong Nai province is the province with the largest durian area in the Southeast and the fourth largest in the country. Recently, the province held a ceremony to announce the export of the first shipment of durian to the Chinese market under the official quota. At this event, 20 container trucks carrying 360 tons of durian, including Dona durian and Ri6 durian grown in Dong Nai province, start off to the Chinese market via Tan Thanh border gate, Huu Nghi international border gate, and Mong Cai international border gate. It is expected that in 2023, Dong Nai will export 20,000 tons of durian to China.

Durian is currently one of the main fruits in Dong Nai province. According to the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, up to this point, the province's durian area has covered more than 11,000 ha. The main durian varieties are Ri6 (accounting for 45% of the area) and DONA (accounting for 50% of the area). It is expected that the province's durian output in 2023 will reach about 69,000 tons.

In order to promote durian export, Dong Nai has actively built up the growing area code and packing establishment code for export to China. Up to now, 11 durian growing areas in Dong Nai with an area of 820 ha have been granted growing area codes. In addition, six durian packing establishments have been issued packing establishment codes.

Mr. Tran Lam Sinh, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in recent years, Dong Nai has focused on building areas specializing in durian cultivation with high quality and a competitive price to target the export market. Businesses in Dong Nai are actively participating in the global supply chain. In order to build a brand for Dong Nai durian, it is really necessary to establish a durian production association to direct the whole industry’s development. The association will be considered a focal point for building linkages between parties to form a durian value chain.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Luat, Director of the Bio-technology Development JSC (Dona-Techno), the company has spent more than 30 years investing in and developing the Dona durian variety, which is famous as the delicious durian brand of Dong Nai province. In the coming time, Dona-Techno will continue to build, develop, and expand the Dona durian brand. The company also continues to accompany durian farmers towards a clean and sustainable agriculture to enhance and develop value chains, helping to bring more benefits to farmers and creating clean products for the market.

At the Talkshow "Improving quality standards and increasing the competitiveness of durian exported to the Chinese market" organized by the Dong Nai People's Committee in mid-June, Mr. Tu Chau, Deputy Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnam and China are promoting cooperation in the export and import of agricultural products. Due to the climate, China cannot grow durian trees, but Chinese consumers are very fond of this delicious, nutritious fruit. Supply is not enough to meet demand, so this fruit is sold at a high price in China.

According to Mr. Tu Chau’s sharing, when conducting surveys at supermarkets, markets, and durian growing areas in Vietnam, they were surprised at the delicious quality and cheap price of Vietnamese durian. Southern Vietnam, including Dong Nai province, has a large, high-quality durian output with potential for commercial cooperation with China.

In order to promote Dong Nai durian export, Mr. Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People's Committee, suggested that durian trading and exporting enterprises in the area continue to accompany, boldly invest in, and expand production to improve quality and fully meet the technical requirements of the import markets. The province will continue to accompany, share, support, and promptly remove difficulties and obstacles for enterprises and farmers so that agricultural products, especially the province's key products, including durian, can well meet the standards of the world market.

According to Mr. Tu Chau, in the first five months of this year, Vietnamese durian imported into China reached about 60,000 tons with a value of US$180 million. It is likely that Vietnam's durian exports to China in the near future will reach over US$1 billion.