Manh Khuong, owner of a durian purchasing depot in the Mekong Delta, confirmed he is offering a 6,000 dong per kilogram commission to anyone who can locate Musang King durian farms ready for harvest before October 24. For Ri6 durian, the commission stands at 2,000 dong per kilogram. Khuong noted that this commission, representing nearly 5% of the durian's price, is unprecedented and will remain in effect until late October.

Khuong is actively seeking farms in Dong Thap and Vinh Long provinces. He noted that some Musang King durian farms are still about 10 days from harvest, with Black Thorn needing 20-25 more days. The limited supply makes it difficult to secure sufficient volume, particularly as traders from Dak Lak have concluded their season early, and durian retailers in TP HCM and Ha Noi are buying directly from farms, bypassing intermediaries.

Musang King durian at a farm in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Manh Khuong

In Cai Be, an area in Dong Thap province, another trader recently offered a 5,000 dong per kilogram commission for Musang King. This trader reported only collecting about one ton on some days, occasionally waiting two or three days for new stock. The scattered harvests across various farms compel traders to continuously search for sources to supply export packaging facilities and retail outlets.

The scarcity extends to Dak Lak province. Hang, a local trader, reported collecting only 500 kg to one ton of Musang King daily, a significant drop from the 7-10 tons during the peak season. Her supply largely originates from small farms, often with only five to 10 trees, each producing about 500 kg to one ton. She anticipates this off-season harvest will end within the next week.

The limited supply is compounded by inconsistent fruit quality. Hang noted that adverse weather has resulted in 5-10% of the durian in many farms having "suong" (unripe/hard flesh), even in well-tended orchards. Some traders initially offer high prices to secure farms but only purchase 100-200 kg during harvest, leaving the remainder. This forces farmers to sell the rest to other buyers at reduced prices.

Demand for Musang King is increasing as Malaysia's durian season has ended. According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, Vietnamese businesses may export durian to Malaysia for processing once domestic supply diminishes. Growing demand from China is also intensifying purchasing competition and driving up prices.

However, domestic Musang King supply faces challenges in rapid expansion due to limited cultivation area. Vietnam currently lacks precise national statistics on the acreage dedicated to this variety. Furthermore, inconsistent yields and fruit quality contribute to low overall production.

In Dong Thap, Vo Tan Loi, Chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, indicated that most local durian farms completed their harvest nearly two months ago. Farmers are currently concentrating on tree maintenance for the next season, resulting in limited Musang King available for purchase at this time.

This supply pressure coincides with a significant surge in durian exports. According to Customs Department data, Vietnam's durian exports in August reached 956 million USD, marking a 62% increase over the same period last year.

Consequently, purchasing prices have risen compared to the previous month. Traders indicate that since mid-September, durian prices in the Central Highlands have increased by 20-30% compared to August. Ri6 is currently bought for 55,000-75,000 dong per kilogram, Monthong grade A for 80,000-90,000 dong, and Musang King ranges from 70,000-130,000 dong, depending on quality. For highly sought-after Musang King farms, buying prices can exceed 130,000 dong per kilogram; Black Thorn can even command over 150,000 dong in some locations.

Traders anticipate prices may moderate as more off-season supply becomes available in late October. Nevertheless, securing farms with adequate volume and desired quality will remain a challenge for buyers in the coming weeks.

Thi Ha