Durian sellers call on locals for support as they struggle with China’s new screening regulations
Vietnamese durian exporters are calling on locals to buy their fruit at discounted rates as China’s new screening process causes significant delays and rejections, according to reporting from local news siteVNExpress.
China has recently updated its screening regulations after traces of Auramine O – a chemical classified as potentially carcinogenic – were found in Thai durian shipments in late 2024. The changes have caused lengthy queues for customs clearance at the border, leaving many Vietnamese shipments rejected or delayed.
In addition to the Auramine O screening, China has also issued warnings about Vietnamese durian and fresh jackfruit exports, citing violations of phytosanitary and food safety standards, according to the publication.
In response container trucks labeled “rescue durian” have appeared on major streets throughout Hanoi and other northern provinces like Hai Duong and Quang Ninh and Hai Phong City, calling on locals to support the struggling industry.
Other publications, including Vietnamnet also reported that durian sellers had been flooding social media platforms and online marketplaces promoting durian at the lowest prices seen in a year.
Nguyen Thuy, a resident of Ninh Binh’s Yen Khanh District, appealed for support to sell her relative’s shipment of 18kg of small-seed durians for VND800,000 (US$31.89), according to the publication. While Huyen My, from Quang Ninh’s Hai Ha District told the Dan Tri news site she sold a 7-8kg box of VIP Ri6 durians at VND450,000 (US$17.94).
“This is the lowest price ever for exported durians,” My said.
In a bid to maintain Vietnam’s reputation for quality fruit exports in international markets, Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department has called for increased monitoring of cultivation areas and packaging facilities and asked local authorities to tighten inspections for pesticide residues and heavy metals and to suspend export codes for violators.
Following a record year for durian exports in 2024, reaching US$3.3 bn and accounting for nearly half of the country’s total fruit and vegetable export value, VNExpress said the county aims to up this in 2025. The goal is to reach a total export value of US$3.5bn to support the larger goal of US$10bn in total fruit and vegetable export value in the near future.
