Durian exports on track to surpass US$4 billion by year-end

The country's durian exports have accelerated significantly since the second quarter of this year.

According to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, durian exports reached US$863 million in the second quarter, up 289.5 percent from the first quarter and a year-on-year increase of 18.9 percent, raising the total export value in the first half to US$1.085 billion.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetables Association estimated that durian exports reached US$600–700 million in July alone, bringing total exports in the first seven months of 2026 to approximately US$1.8 billion, up about 30 percent year-on-year.

Monthly durian exports could approach US$1 billion between August and October, he said, adding that if this trend continues, Viet Nam's durian exports are expected to exceed US$4 billion by the end of the year.

Viet Nam was China's second-largest supplier of durian in the first half of 2026, with exports valued at US$846 million, accounting for 18 percent of China's total durian imports.

Meanwhile, India's recent decision to allow import of fresh Vietnamese durians has created new opportunities for Viet Nam's durian industry to expand into another major market in the coming period.

Durian exports are expected to continue growing strongly in the coming months as the Central Highlands—home to around half of Viet Nam's durian cultivation area—enters its peak harvest season.

Durian remains the sector's biggest growth driver, accounting for an estimated 35-40 percent of total fruit and vegetable export revenue so far this year and as much as 55-60 percent in July./.