China’s durian prices drop as Vietnam steps in to make up for gaps in Thai supply

The price of durian in China, the world’s largest market for the tropical fruit with seemingly endless demand, has dropped in recent months

A greater share of imports from Vietnam, and a severe heatwave which reduced Thailand’s harvest, have been named as contributing factors

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China’s durian market, the largest in the world, is seeing price shifts as its import picture changes. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00am, 22 May 2024Updated: 10:20am, 22 May 2024

Durian prices in China – the world’s top market for the spiky, pungent fruit typically regarded as a luxury item – have fallen this month as Vietnam gains on Thailand in a heated export rivalry and consumers mind their budgets.

The online shopping platform Pupu placed the price of a 6kg (13lbs) durian at 179 yuan (US$25) to 209 yuan about a week ago – a drop from a recent price of 279 yuan – and some vendors have cited a low of 10 yuan for half a kilogram.

Zhao Yu, a 37-year-old finance professional, said prices fell this month at her usual fruit store in Shanghai every time the durians began to pile up.

She recalled a low of 24 yuan per 500 grams (18oz) compared to the 28 yuan she normally pays, but said this was not enough variation to affect her twice-monthly purchases.

“When they have a lot, the prices go down,” Zhao said. “When the piles are higher, you can see that clearly.”

Competition for a larger share of China’s seemingly bottomless market has pitted Thailand and Vietnam against each other. Demand for the fruit – a delicacy so popular it has been given as a wedding gift – has risen consistently in China, necessitating more imports as the domestic crop is comparatively tiny.

In April, the import price for durians from Thailand was US$5.80 per kilogram according to China’s General Administration of Customs, slightly surpassing the total average of US$5.38 per kilogram. Conversely, Vietnamese durians were imported at US$4.22 per kilogram.