Vietnamese coffee farmers ride China's durian wave
Vietnam only officially entered the Chinese durian market after a 2022 trade protocol but last year became the country's biggest supplier by volume.
Vietnamese coffee farmers are capitalizing on China's growing demand for durian, a fruit known as the "king of fruits." After joining the Chinese durian market in 2022, Vietnam has become the country's biggest supplier by volume last year. The Central Highlands of Vietnam produces around one-sixth of the world's coffee, but farmers are shifting their focus to durian cultivation.
Pham Xuan Lan, a farmer, attributes his newfound wealth to durian, stating that coffee allows him to "live okay," but durian "makes you rich." The Central Highlands' durian production has increased fivefold to 200,000 hectares in the past decade. This surge in production is driven by China's demand, which has grown due to expanding supply and increasing popularity on social media, especially among younger generations.
Vietnam exported nearly US$4 billion worth of fresh durian in 2023, up from US$180 million in 2021. However, concerns exist over reliance on China and potential oversupply as more farmers join the market.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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