Vietnam’s durian exports continued to record strong growth in 2026, with export value reaching nearly USD 2 billion in the first eight months of the year. The result has strengthened durian’s position among Vietnam’s high-value agricultural exports and helped the country further narrow the gap with Thailand in the global durian market.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, durian exports in the first eight months of 2026 were estimated at around USD 1.97 billion, up 28.3% year on year. China remained the dominant destination, accounting for approximately 95% of Vietnam’s total durian export value.

Vietnam’s Durian Exports Continue Strong Growth

Vietnam’s durian industry has become an increasingly important contributor to the country’s fruit and vegetable exports.

In 2025, Vietnam’s durian export value reached approximately USD 3.85 billion, accounting for more than 45% of the country’s total fruit and vegetable export value.

Growth continued into 2026. During the first seven months of the year, Vietnam exported approximately USD 1.47 billion worth of durian, representing a 44.1% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

By the end of August, export value had approached the USD 2 billion mark.

The figures demonstrate that durian is no longer simply a high-value fruit but has become an important agricultural export commodity for Vietnam.

Alongside rising output, improvements in production control, traceability, packaging facilities, and compliance with importing-market requirements are also becoming increasingly important to sustaining export growth.

Vietnam Narrows the Gap With Thailand

Thailand remains a major player in the global durian export market. However, Vietnam has rapidly narrowed the gap, particularly in the Chinese market.

In 2025, Vietnam surpassed Thailand in fresh durian export volume to China for the first time, according to Chinese customs data. This highlighted the rapid expansion of Vietnam’s supply capacity and its growing presence in the Chinese market.

However, in terms of global durian exports, Thailand remains ahead of Vietnam.

Industry forecasts have suggested that Vietnam could overtake Thailand in global durian exports if the current growth momentum continues. However, this remains a projection rather than an established result.

The competition between the two major Southeast Asian suppliers is therefore becoming increasingly significant as demand for durian continues to expand.

China Remains Vietnam’s Key Durian Export Market

China continues to play a central role in Vietnam’s durian exports.

In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported approximately USD 1.85 billion worth of durian to China, accounting for nearly 95% of total export value.

Vietnam benefits from its geographical proximity to China, which supports relatively short transportation times and provides multiple logistics options, including road and sea transportation.

Vietnam’s harvesting seasons also provide opportunities to supplement supply during periods when production from other major exporting countries declines.

However, the high concentration of exports in a single market also highlights the importance of maintaining product quality, strengthening traceability, and expanding into additional international markets.

In 2026, Vietnam gained access to another major market as India officially allowed imports of fresh Vietnamese durian from July. The development provides an additional opportunity for exporters while supporting efforts to diversify export destinations.

Expanding Growing Areas and Packing Facilities

Maintaining export growth requires production capacity to develop alongside quality control.

As of September 2026, Vietnam had 1,599 approved growing-area codes and 281 packing-facility codes serving durian exports.

On August 14, 2026, China’s General Administration of Customs approved an additional 401 growing-area codes and 166 packing-facility codes from Vietnam.

The expansion of approved growing areas and packing facilities increases Vietnam’s ability to supply products that meet international market requirements.

It also supports a more integrated supply chain linking growing areas, packing facilities, exporters, logistics providers, and overseas buyers.

For fresh agricultural products, logistics plays a particularly important role. From harvesting and preliminary processing to packaging, transportation, and customs clearance, every stage can affect product quality when the shipment reaches its destination.

Traceability Becomes Increasingly Important

Traceability is becoming a critical requirement for Vietnam’s agricultural exports.

From July 1, 2026, Vietnam began implementing an electronic traceability system for agricultural products, including exported durian.

Traceability improves the ability to monitor products from growing areas through processing and export. For markets with strict requirements on food safety, residues, and product quality, reliable traceability is increasingly becoming an essential part of the export process.

This also changes how exporters manage their supply chains.

Businesses must not only ensure that cargo reaches its destination on schedule but also maintain consistency across growing-area information, packing facilities, certificates, customs documents, and inspection requirements.

Outlook for Vietnam’s Durian Exports

The country has several advantages, including expanding production areas, geographical proximity to China, established export infrastructure, and growing access to international markets.

Vietnam is also working to expand approved growing areas and packing facilities while strengthening traceability and food-safety controls.

However, becoming the world’s leading durian exporter remains a target rather than an established outcome. Future growth will depend on product quality, food safety, traceability, market diversification, and logistics capabilities.

The development of Vietnam’s durian industry is therefore closely connected not only to agriculture but also to the ability to build an efficient supply chain that can move Vietnamese products to global markets reliably and competitively.