AsemconnectVietnam - Durian prices across Vietnam’s key growing regions remained largely unchanged on May 8, 2026, as weak buying demand continued to weigh on the market. At the same time, exporters faced mounting pressure from cargo congestion, rising inspection costs and tighter food safety controls from China.

According to data from chogia.vn, trading activity showed little improvement, with most traders maintaining cautious purchasing volumes.
In the Mekong Delta region, premium RI6 durians were traded at around 55,000-60,000 dong per kg, while lower-grade fruit sold at 25,000-28,000 dong per kg. Premium Thai durians held at 85,000-90,000 dong per kg, with bulk-grade fruit priced at 45,000-50,000 dong per kg.
In southeastern Vietnam, prices were mostly flat from previous sessions. Premium RI6 durians were quoted at 55,000-60,000 dong per kg, while bulk-grade fruit ranged between 25,000 and 30,000 dong per kg. Premium Thai durians traded at 75,000-85,000 dong per kg, while lower-grade products were sold at 40,000-50,000 dong per kg.
In the Central Highlands, the market also remained steady. Standard-grade RI6 durians were priced at 52,000-54,000 dong per kg, with bulk-grade fruit at 25,000-30,000 dong per kg. Premium Thai durians were traded at 72,000-74,000 dong per kg, while bulk-grade products fetched 32,000-35,000 dong per kg.
According to Dak Lak 24h newspaper, Vietnam’s durian industry could face greater challenges after China introduced stricter imported food safety regulations.
Speaking to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper on May 7, the owner of an agricultural export company said his firm currently had 10 containers of durians waiting for sampling and laboratory testing in Dau Giay, Dong Nai province.
Some shipments risked being redirected to the domestic market or processed into frozen durian pulp because fresh durians could not be stored for long periods.
“If we have to switch to those alternatives, the shipment could lose about 70% of its value,” the exporter said.
Although Vietnam officially had several laboratories licensed to test cadmium and Auramine O residues for exports to China, only a limited number of facilities were accepting large-scale samples, mainly in Dau Giay, leading to severe congestion, he added.
Testing costs had also surged, with some exporters reportedly relying on intermediaries to secure sampling slots.
“Since the containers have already been loaded, exporters have no choice but to accept the additional costs. Our warehouse has temporarily stopped purchasing new durians because exports are bottlenecked,” he said.
The exporter warned that difficulties could intensify from June 1, when China’s stricter import food safety management rules come into effect. Besides testing requirements, exporters and farmers would also need to adjust cultivation methods and plantation management practices to comply with the new standards.
Vo Tan Loi, chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, said the biggest bottleneck for durian exports currently lay in laboratory testing.
“Without qualified test results, shipments cannot be exported to China,” Loi said.
According to him, the concentration of containers in Dau Giay resulted from the fact that laboratories there had been approved by Chinese authorities to receive and process samples, while several laboratories previously handling samples from the Mekong Delta had stopped accepting them.
Those laboratories were reportedly concerned about possible suspension if their testing results differed from Chinese re-inspection findings.
Source: Vitic