Can Tho ships first 18.5 tonnes of durian to China

ABO/NDO- The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has exported the first 18.5 tonnes of locally grown durians to China under an agreement between Vietnam’s agriculture ministry and Chinese customs.

The durian was grown by Truong Phat Cooperative and purchased for export by Ngoc Minh Lang Son Company at the price of 77,000 VND (3.26 USD) per kilogram.

Sharing his joy at the export of durian to China via official channels, Truong Phat Director Tran Thien Thanh said the cooperative was granted two growing area codes, which is a favourable condition for selling durian at similar or higher prices compared to market prices throughout the harvest season.

A stall selling durians in Can Tho. (Photo: Bao Can Tho).

He added that the cooperative pledges to comply with required cultivation practices to maintain the quality of its fruits.

As of March, Can Tho has submitted dossiers for its 42 durian growing zones with a total area of 851.5 hectares to China, which has inspected and approved eight zones covering 175 hectares.

In 2023, Can Tho plans to export 3,500 tonnes of durian, equivalent to 10% of its total output, to China through the official channel.

Durian is one of the most profitable fruits, generating about 200-250 million VND per hectare. The total cultivation area of Can Tho has grown from 537 hectares in 2015 to 2,965 hectares in 2022, of which 1,794 hectares are producing fruits.

Can Tho’s durians are mainly concentrated in the districts of Phong Dien, Thoi Lai and O Mon.

(Source: NDO)