Vietnamese Coffee Farmers Shift to Durian to Meet Chinese Demand

The area dedicated to durian cultivation in Vietnam has increased more than fivefold to 200,000 hectares over the last decade. This shift is driven by surging demand from China, where the fruit has gained popularity among young people on social media platforms like Douyin. Vietnam trails only Brazil in coffee output, but many farmers in the Central Highlands are replacing traditional coffee crops with durian to increase their income. One farmer, Pham Xuan Lan, reported that his durian production earns him significantly more than coffee would have, allowing him to purchase a car and houses for his children.

Vietnam officially entered the Chinese durian market following a 2022 trade protocol and became China's largest supplier by volume last year, ending a near two decade period of Thai dominance. China imported nearly 7.5 billion US dollars worth of fresh durian last year, which is a near 12 fold increase since 2015. Vietnam's durian exports are expected to reach 4 billion US dollars this year, with 90 percent of those exports going to China.

Despite the boom, the Vietnamese government has warned of risks regarding oversupply and loss of quality control as planted areas expand rapidly. Some farmers expressed concern over a reliance on the Chinese market and noted a recent price crash in Malaysia caused by a bumper harvest. While China is attempting to boost its own production in Hainan province, experts suggest that homegrown durians will only supplement Southeast Asian imports.