China accounted for nearly 96% of Vietnam’s durian export market in the first nine months of 2026. This left the Vietnamese fruit industry with almost no alternative market and heavily dependent on demand from this giant buyer.
According to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs, total durian export revenue exceeded US$3.45 billion in the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 25% from the same period last year. Mainland China was the largest buyer, accounting for nearly US$3.3 billion. Its market share rose from 93.6% last year to nearly 96% this year.
The next-largest market was Papua New Guinea, with US$37.7 million, followed by Hong Kong at US$36.7 million and the United States at US$20.5 million.
However, experts warned that concentrating on a single country in this way would leave Vietnam’s durian exports highly vulnerable if China tightened quality standards or suddenly reduced imports.
Durian is a high-value fruit, but it ripens quickly and is difficult to store for long periods without a suitable freezing system. If shipments cannot clear customs on schedule, the risk of backlogs at packing facilities rises, forcing sellers to offer steep discounts. By Rithy.
