Durian exports surged in early 2026, with Q1 export value up 230%, creating new growth opportunities for Vietnamese durian.

Durian exports show strong signs of recovery

After a challenging 2025, durian exports recorded encouraging growth in the first months of 2026. Beyond the recovery in export value, the sector is also shifting toward higher quality, more processed products, and stricter compliance with market requirements.

In Q1 2026, Vietnam’s durian exports reached approximately USD 221.7 million, up 230% compared with the same period in 2025. This result shows that Vietnamese durian is gradually regaining growth momentum after facing challenges related to quality control and traceability.

Durian exports rebound after a challenging period

In 2025, Vietnam exported around 1.1 million tonnes of fresh durian, down from more than 1.3 million tonnes in 2024. One of the main reasons was the introduction of stricter food safety and traceability requirements by importing markets, particularly China.

Entering 2026, durian exports began to recover. This positive trend not only reflects improved market conditions but also shows that Vietnam’s durian sector is gradually adapting to new standards.

To maintain growth, improving durian quality, strengthening raw material area management, and enhancing traceability remain important priorities across the supply chain.

Frozen durian creates new opportunities for exports

One of the highlights of durian exports is the rapid growth of frozen durian.

Frozen durian exports increased from just over 4,600 tonnes in 2024 to more than 91,000 tonnes in 2025, representing nearly 20-fold growth.

In Q1 2026, the average export price of frozen durian reached approximately USD 4,302 per tonne, up more than 20% year-on-year and around 18–22% higher than fresh durian.

Compared with fresh fruit, frozen durian offers advantages in storage time, long-distance transportation, and reduced logistics pressure during peak harvest periods. This creates further opportunities for Vietnamese durian to diversify products and access additional markets.

Durian quality becomes a key driver of sustainable growth

Along with the recovery of durian exports, durian quality is becoming increasingly important.

Across many growing areas, farmers are gradually adjusting cultivation practices by focusing more on:

• Maintaining production records.
• Applying fertilizers appropriately at different growth stages.
• Managing chemical residues during cultivation.
• Following technical requirements for export production.
• Improving product quality and uniformity.

Maintaining durian quality from the orchard level helps meet market requirements while also contributing to the value of Vietnamese durian in the export supply chain.

In addition, managing growing area codes and production records is becoming increasingly important as importing markets strengthen their requirements for origin and quality control.

Durian exports are shifting toward quality-driven growth

Strong growth in early 2026 shows that the potential for durian exports remains significant. However, maintaining this momentum will require greater focus on product quality, growing area management, and compliance with export standards rather than relying only on higher production volumes.

For farmers, proper crop care, appropriate nutrient management, effective management of growing area codes, and compliance with traceability requirements can contribute to a more stable supply of export-standard durian.

These improvements can also help Vietnamese durian move toward more sustainable, quality-driven growth in international markets.

Conclusion

Durian exports are showing a strong recovery in 2026, supported by new opportunities from frozen durian and international markets. To sustain growth, the Vietnamese durian sector needs to continue improving quality, strengthening traceability, and managing growing area codes more effectively.

Source: https://www.tintucnongnghiep.com/2026/05/xuat-khau-sau-rieng-tang-hon-200.html