Vietnam's durian exports are rebounding sharply. First-quarter (Q1) 2026 export value was about US$221.7 million (about \u00a534.4 billion), up 230% year on year, and export volume broke through 80,000 tonnes. Emerging markets surged, with shipments to South Korea up 262% and to the United States up 107%, and frozen durian expanded explosively to several times the previous year's scale. On June 1, China's new quarantine rule Order 280 took effect, changing the terms of trade with the largest market. For Japanese buyers too, procurement opportunities centered on frozen durian are widening.<\/p>\n
Q1 durian exports were about US$221.7 million, up 230% from a year earlier, and export volume reached over 80,000 tonnes. The breakdown is about 68,500 tonnes of fresh durian and about 11,600 tonnes of frozen durian. The average unit price of frozen durian is about US$4,302 per tonne, 20% higher than the previous year and 18-22% above fresh durian. The picture of high-priced frozen goods lifting export value is clear. The volume of frozen durian has leapt to several times its scale over the past year.<\/p>\n
By market, shipments to South Korea stood out at up 262%, followed by the United States up 107%, Australia up 40%, and Japan up 12%. Export destinations that had leaned entirely on China are diversifying, and the frozen form is helping open up emerging markets. Meanwhile, on June 1, China's new quarantine and clearance rule Order 280 took effect. Procedures for China, the largest market, have changed, and growing areas are being pressed to respond. The expansion of frozen durian exports is frozen durian leading second-quarter exports<\/a> is an extension of the current reported in that article.<\/p>\nQ1 durian exports in data (yen conversion)<\/h2>\n
| Item<\/th>\n | Q1 2026<\/th>\n | Yen conversion \/ year on year<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export value<\/td>\n | About US$222 million<\/td>\n | About \u00a534.4 billion (+230%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||
| Export volume<\/td>\n | Over 80,000 tonnes<\/td>\n | \u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||
| Fresh durian<\/td>\n | About 68,500 tonnes<\/td>\n | \u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||
| frozen durian<\/td>\n | About 11,600 tonnes<\/td>\n | Unit price about US$4,302\/t (+20%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||
| To South Korea<\/td>\n | +262%<\/td>\n | \u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||
| To the United States<\/td>\n | +107%<\/td>\n | \u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nLocal reaction<\/h2>\nExporters speak of their confidence, saying frozen durian keeps well and can open up markets outside China all at once. From producers, there is also confusion over price swings: Ri6 Grade A runs VND 40,000-49,000\/kg and Thai-variety Grade A VND 76,000-81,000\/kg, a wide market swing. Experts take a cautious stance, saying the instability of Chinese demand, exceedances of standards for cadmium and Yellow O, and oversupply risk as harvests advance in various areas all remain.<\/p>\n Impact on Japanese buyers and agriculture stakeholders<\/h2>\nShipments to Japan are growing steadily at up 12%, and frozen durian is drawing attention as a form that is easy to procure stably year-round. With the fresh-durian market moving greatly by variety and grade, frozen goods that are stable in keeping quality and in quality itself have ample room for adoption in processing and food service. But because the risk of exceeding standards for residual substances has been pointed out, choosing suppliers with inspection systems in place is a prerequisite. In a phase where logistics shift with the entry into force of China's Order 280, diversifying procurement sources is also effective.<\/p>\n Ripple effects on the industry<\/h2>\nThe rapid expansion of frozen durian shows that Vietnam's fruit industry is moving off a single fresh-produce leg and shifting its weight toward processing and freezing. High-priced frozen goods leave added value in the growing area, and market diversification also advances risk dispersion. At the same time, China's tightened quarantine and concerns over oversupply are pressing growing areas to thoroughly enforce quality control and traceability. The size of the market swings by grade tells that standardization of production and distribution is the next task.<\/p>\n Practical information<\/h2>\n
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