Durian prices increase like gold prices, some types increase by nearly half a million VND/kg

By the end of October, the main season of Vietnamese durian has ended, causing the price of off-season durian to increase sharply. In particular, Musang King durian is currently over 400,000 VND/kg and the price is expected to continue to increase.

A very small, oval-shaped Musang King durian sells for more than 425,000 VND - Photo: THAO THUONG

Vietnamese durian is grown in large quantities in the Central Highlands, and the season ends at the end of October. Meanwhile, from now until the end of March next year, the off-season durian in the West will enter harvest season.

Markets, shops, supermarkets… are all "empty" of durian.

On November 1, Tuoi Tre Online recorded that compared to previous days, some durian specialty stores in Ho Chi Minh City are now closed, some stores are scattered, and even after wading through the entire market, you still cannot find a single durian.

At Phu Nhuan market (Phu Nhuan district), from the market gate on Phan Dinh Phung street, go straight through the market, bordering Huynh Van Banh street. On both sides of the stalls, there are fruit and vegetable stalls, vendors display a variety of goods but… do not sell durian.

"For nearly 2 months now, I haven't bought durian to sell. The reason is because it's out of season so the price is high, and it's not as fragrant and delicious as at the beginning of the season. Durian has some fruit, some fruit is lost, selling it at the end of the season is a loss," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung (a fruit vendor at Phu Nhuan market).

Similarly, on Phan Xich Long street (Phu Nhuan district) there is a very large durian store, displaying many Ri6 durians, but for the past week this store has been locked.

Or in Horizon apartment building (Nguyen Van Nguyen street, district 1), which is known as the "rich area" of the city, there is a Coo.opmart supermarket ( Saigon Co.op ) that always sells high-value fruits, and durian is indispensable. But according to the sales staff, Ri6 durian has been out of stock for the past month, and if there is any, the product is not good so the store does not import it.

Durian prices increase every day

Durian connoisseurs are no strangers to the huge fresh durian and frozen durian store on Huynh Tinh Cua Street (Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3). Unlike usual days, the fresh products are displayed on shelves close to the street, including many "selected" durians.

Durian sold on Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street (Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City) is introduced by the seller as Thai durian, priced at 250,000 VND/kg - Photo: THAO THUONG

On the afternoon of November 1, the store only had about 20 very small, oval durians with the label on the stem that said they were Musang King durians, a Malaysian variety grown in Vietnam, at 420,000 VND/kg.

"Just yesterday, 300kg of durian was transported from the West, sold directly and online in a day, only this much was left. The price of durian has increased too much. At first, we did not dare to import goods. We did not expect that "connoisseurs" would buy durian out of season.

Tonight, about 500kg of durian will continue to be transported to Ho Chi Minh City," said the sales staff.

The staff said the store used to sell Ri6 durian for about 120,000 VND/kg; then increased to 150,000-155,000 VND/kg, Dona durian at 165,000 VND/kg, Monthong durian at 180,000-190,000 VND/kg.

Musang King durian was priced at 300,000 VND/kg in early October, then increased to 380,000 VND/kg, and is currently 420,000 VND/kg.

"By the end of the year, off-season durian prices will increase. It is not surprising that Musang King durian can cost more than VND500,000/kg," added the store employee.

On Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street (Phu Nhuan District), about 30 durians are sold at 250,000 VND/kg. The seller introduced that these are Thai durians grown in Cambodia.

"There was no durian yesterday, just got it this morning. I searched all over this area for durians like this. If I don't buy one now, it won't be available when I come back tonight," this person said.

Retail prices of durian will continue to rise.

Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen - General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association - acknowledged that the story of the sharp increase in durian retail sales is because the main durian season has ended, so durian has become scarce.

"It can be seen that retail prices of durian will continue to increase, both to serve the domestic market and to serve exports to Chinese consumers as the end of the year and holidays and Tet increase the purchase of gifts," said Mr. Nguyen.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, in the first 10 months of this year, Vietnam's durian exports reached more than 3 billion USD, an increase of 65% over the same period in 2023. This is also the highest export level of durian ever.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gia-sau-rieng-tang-nhu-gia-vang-co-loai-tang-gan-nua-trieu-dong-kg-20241101154421862.htm