Durian export testing activities have basically returned to normal
Recently, there has been some information related to the congestion of durian exports in some localities in the Central Highlands, including Dak Lak, the largest growing area in the country.
The reason is said to be that some testing rooms have temporarily stopped operating, making it impossible for businesses to complete the analysis procedures for cadmium and yellow O indicators, a mandatory condition for granting export certificates. This situation slows down customs clearance, directly affects durian consumption, and poses a risk of damage to businesses and durian growers.
Updating the latest information on this, Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director of Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), said that Vietnam currently has 24 testing rooms recognized by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to serve durian exports, with a total theoretical capacity of about 3,200 samples/day, enough to meet actual demand. However, since mid-October 2025, a number of testing laboratories have been temporarily suspended due to maintenance, equipment failure or waiting for re-evaluation.
In this situation, on October 24, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung held an urgent meeting with relevant units, requesting designated facilities to review their operating status, transparent capacity and ensure accuracy and consistency between domestic and Chinese results. The Deputy Minister directed that testing work must be carried out quickly and seriously, avoiding data discrepancies that cause exported goods to be returned.
Up to now, after a week of drastic action and close direction from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, situation of durian testing has basically returned to normal, ensuring trading activities for businesses.
At the main border gates, durian export activities are still taking place smoothly. Specifically, in Lang Son there are currently about 200-250 vehicles/day, Lao Cai 100-150 vehicles and Mong Cai about 50 vehicles, with a total daily customs clearance volume of about 300-400 vehicles.
Currently, durian output is not much, it has entered the final stage of the season. Purchasing and exporting are taking place normally. Localities and enterprises need to stabilize the market and avoid panic. For any problems or difficulties in testing or customs clearance, enterprises and cooperatives are requested to contact directly the two focal units, the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development and the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, for timely guidance and handling.
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has directed strongly and mobilized relevant Departments, Divisions and units to take action and coordinate with the Chinese side to resolve each specific problem. The goal is to not let any shipment be interrupted just because of testing or technical procedures.
Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development was assigned to review the capacity of laboratories, coordinate with the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to send experts to support localities. The Ministry also requested to mobilize maximum units with legal conditions to handle the remaining samples, ensure smooth export, and protect production for about 150,000 hectares of durian with an expected output of over 1.5 million tons this year.
Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection is enhancing technical exchanges, sharing testing data and continuing to guide localities to be more proactive in sampling, quality control, ensuring durian production and consumption until the end of the season.
Close coordination between central and local agencies is a key factor to maintain stable exports in the final stage of the season. “The general spirit is to handle the matter quickly, neatly, and in accordance with regulations, ensuring the interests of businesses and the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in the Chinese market in particular and the international market in general,” said Mr. Huynh Tan Dat.
Recovering durian exports, aiming to build a sustainable consumption chain
Dak Lak currently has nearly 45,000 hectares of durian, of which more than 26,000 hectares have been harvested, the total output of the province in 2025 is estimated at 390,000 tons, an increase of 30,000 tons compared to 2024. By the end of October 2025, the harvest has basically ended, the remaining output is about 10%, equivalent to 30,000 - 40,000 tons concentrated in several communes such as Ea Toh, DliêYa, Ea Tan, Ea Ba.
The current purchase price at the farm gate is around 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg, although it has decreased slightly compared to last year, growers still have high profits. Some purchasing enterprises have slowed down due to inspection problems, but in general, purchasing and consumption activities are still stable. Currently, the whole province has 269 growing area codes and 40 packaging facilities that have been granted official export codes to China. Of which, 224 areas have authorized enterprises to export with an output of more than 180,000 tons; the remaining 45 areas export directly.
Ms. Dang Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak, said that recently, some businesses have reported difficulties due to the temporary suspension of issuing testing certificates for Gold O and Cadmium, causing export progress to be slow. The Department has reported to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, recommending that testing centers speed up sample processing to avoid interruption of export activities.
The Department has been closely coordinating with specialized Departments, especially the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the Dak Lak Durian Association and businesses to remove obstacles, ensure the consumption of all end-of-season output, maintain market stability and maintain the reputation of Dak Lak agricultural products.
Mr. Le Anh Trung, Chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, also said that since mid-October 2025, the testing of the two indicators of cadmium and Gold O has been congested. The main reason is that businesses in the area focus on testing at 2 centers that are qualified to test the above 2 indicators, leading to overload, many shipments are delayed in testing. Durian is delayed in testing, mostly in warehouses in Dak Lak province. However, this is not a total blockage, there are still some units that maintain export activities, despite difficulties.
Within just one week (from October 24), thanks to the direction of the Government, the synchronous coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Departments and localities, the backlog of test samples has been fundamentally resolved. The previously suspended testing rooms have resumed operations, working through the night to return results to businesses in a timely manner. The backlog has been resolved, the market is gradually stabilizing, businesses can confidently continue to purchase and export the remaining output, accounting for about 10%, equivalent to tens of thousands of tons.
The Association highly appreciates the prompt and decisive direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. In the coming time, the Association will coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee and Department of Agriculture and Environment to implement the 2026 plan on building a sustainable durian production and consumption chain. The Provincial People's Committee has agreed on the policy and plans to hold a conference at the end of November to discuss long-term solutions. This will be an opportunity for businesses, management agencies and scientists to join hands to perfect the Dak Lak durian value chain.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn