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

The online shopping platform Pupu placed the price of a 6-kilogram (13lbs) durian at 179 yuan to 209 yuan (US$25 to US$29) 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.”

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.

Overall, durian prices decreased compared to March, with Thai durians imported at US$6.49 per kilogram, Vietnamese durians at US$5.23 per kilogram and the average import price reaching US$5.63 per kilogram for the month.

Supply has also dropped, according to data from the customs administration. In the first four months of the year, imports fell by 32 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 to crest US$1 billion. Shipments dropped by 35 per cent in per-kilogram terms.

High heat causes the skin to crack or the fibres to dry out in some durians, said Sam Sin, development director at S&F Produce Group. The company, a Hong Kong-based durian exporter, ships the fruit from Thailand to mainland China.

In Zhejiang province, fruit importer Huang Dapeng told a WeChat forum that some durians were