Nearly 2,000 containers of durian exports were recently stalled in several Central Highlands provinces, including Dak Lak - Vietnam’s largest durian-growing region.

The delay occurred because some designated laboratories temporarily halted operations, preventing companies from completing mandatory testing for cadmium and auramine O, which are prerequisites for export certification.

This situation disrupted customs clearance, directly affecting durian consumption and reducing revenue for businesses and farmers.

Export resumes with 300-400 trucks each day

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Durian exports to China have resumed smoothly. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Regarding this issue, Huynh Tan Dat, Director General of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, stated that 24 laboratories across the country have been certified by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) to conduct export testing for durians.

These labs have a combined theoretical capacity of 3,200 samples per day - sufficient to meet current demand.

However, since mid-October, several labs suspended operations due to maintenance, equipment failures, or pending evaluations.

In response, on October 24, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung held an emergency meeting with relevant agencies. He instructed authorized labs to reassess their operations, ensure transparency in testing capacity, and align testing outcomes with those from Chinese counterparts.

The deputy minister emphasized the importance of swift and accurate testing to avoid discrepancies that could result in shipment rejections.

After a week of intensive intervention and strict oversight by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the testing process has largely returned to normal.

According to Dat, major border gates are now processing durian exports without issue, with 300-400 trucks crossing daily.

This includes around 200-250 trucks through Lang Son, 100-150 via Lao Cai, and 50 through Mong Cai.

“Durian output is decreasing as the season nears its end. Harvesting and exports are proceeding as usual,” Dat noted. He advised localities and businesses to maintain market stability and avoid panic.

For any ongoing issues related to testing or customs clearance, he urged businesses and cooperatives to directly contact the two focal units: the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, and the Plant Protection Department for timely support.

He added that the Ministry is actively coordinating with related departments and Chinese counterparts to resolve issues on a case-by-case basis. The goal is to prevent any shipment from being stalled due to testing or technical documentation bottlenecks.

Authorities have called for the full mobilization of eligible labs to address backlogs, ensuring seamless export activities while protecting roughly 150,000 hectares of durian crops expected to yield over 1.5 million tons this year.

“We are increasing technical cooperation, sharing test data, and guiding local authorities to proactively collect samples and manage quality to support durian production and consumption until the season ends,” he said.

The Plant Protection Department stressed that strong coordination between central and local agencies is essential to maintaining stable exports in the season’s final stage. The shared principle is swift, accurate, and compliant action to safeguard businesses and uphold the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural exports.

Prices slightly down, but profits remain high for farmers

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Though durian prices have slightly declined from last year, farmers still report strong profits. Photo: Nguyen Hue

Dang Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Environment, reported that the province has nearly 45,000 hectares of durian, over 26,000 of which are already in harvest. Total output in 2025 is expected to reach 390,000 tons - 30,000 tons more than in 2024.

As of the end of October, the harvest season was nearly complete, with only about 10% of fruit left to collect (30,000-40,000 tons) in communes such as Ea Toh, Dlie Ya, Ea Tan, and Ea Ba.

Farm-gate prices ranged from 60,000 to 70,000 VND per kilogram (approximately $2.40 to $2.80), a slight decrease from last year. Despite this dip, growers still enjoyed substantial profits.

While some companies slowed purchasing due to testing delays, overall buying and consumption remained steady.

Regarding complaints about testing delays for auramine O and cadmium impacting export progress, Thuy stated that the department has reported the issue to the Provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, requesting prompt action from labs to prevent further disruption.

Le Anh Trung, Chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, confirmed that previously closed labs have resumed operations and are working overnight to deliver timely test results to exporters.

The backlog has been resolved, the market is stabilizing, and businesses can now proceed confidently with the remaining harvest.

Tam An