[Economy] Vietnamese Durian Gaining Popularity...

Vietnamese durians are being sold at Japanese supermarkets for 17–18 USD per kilogram — equivalent to more than 400,000 VND — which is 3–4 USD higher per kilogram than durians from the Philippines.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phi Toan, President of JV Solutions, a company exporting fresh produce to Japan, the retail price of Vietnamese durian in Japan has doubled from last year, reaching 17–18 USD per kilogram.

Mr. Toan explained that the rise in prices is due to higher import costs and increasing demand for durians in both Japan and China, which has outpaced supply.

He also noted that due to limited harvest volumes, there was a two-month period recently when stocks ran out. Over the past three months, his company has exported 24 tons of durians to Japan by sea and several tons by air.

Vietnamese durians mainly compete with those from Thailand and the Philippines. Currently, Vietnamese durians are about 3 USD cheaper per kilogram than Thai ones, but 3–4 USD more expensive than those from the Philippines.

According to Mr. Ta Duc Minh, Commercial Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, Vietnamese durians surpassed Thai durians in Japan’s total durian imports during January and February 2023.

“Along with longans, durian is one of the best-selling Vietnamese fruits in Japan. However, China and some ASEAN countries remain Vietnam’s largest export markets for durians,” Mr. Minh said.

The number of Japanese durian lovers is also increasing. Ms. Dinh Thi Minh, President of Aikai Group, which operates the AI MART supermarket chain in Ibaraki Prefecture, said that more Japanese consumers are becoming familiar with Vietnamese tropical fruits. One such fan is Ms. Minori Murata, Secretary-General of the Vietnam–Japan Friendship Association (a local NPO in Ibaraki), who loves Vietnamese durians, longans, lychees, and coconuts.

“Our company sells frozen durians to ensure long shelf life and stable quality so that they can be available in supermarkets all year round,” Ms. Minh said.

It is forecast that Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in 2023 will reach more than 4 billion USD, a 20% increase from the previous year. Among these, durian, lychee, and dragon fruit are expected to be the country’s key export fruits.