(Yicai) Aug. 17 -- China remained the main market for Vietnamese durian in the first half of this year, with the Southeast Asian country reporting relevant exports surged 37 percent from a year ago.

Durina exports to China topped USD872 million in the six months ended June 30, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The annual figure is expected to exceed USD4 billion due to the main production season for fruit being in the second half of the year.

The most commonly seen durian in Chinese supermarkets and street fruit shops comes from Thailand and Vietnam, with prices continuing to fall thanks to the abundant supply.

The popularity of Southeast Asian durian and tropical agricultural products in China is due to the relatively mature supply and industrial chains under market-driven conditions, Zhou Shixin, director of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies' Center for Southeast Asian Studies, told Yicai.

To reach China from Vietnam, durian is first transported from Vietnamese orchards to local workshops, where it undergoes sorting, inspection, cleaning, labeling, and packing. The fruit is then loaded onto refrigerated trucks and has to pass inspection and quarantine by authorities on the Chinese border before being released on the market.

In July 2022, China and Vietnam signed the Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Vietnamese Fresh Durian Exported to China, which boosted Vietnam's durian exports to almost USD4 billion last year from USD277 million in 2022.

In the past, Vietnamese durian was primarily supplied to the local market, with significantly fluctuating prices making it difficult for farmers and pickers to predict their seasonal earnings. After being approved for export to China, the purchasing volume increased while prices stabilized, leading to steadier market expectations and improved farmers' enthusiasm.

Chinese consumers have also benefited from durian imports, with retail prices significantly decreasing. China imported 1.87 million tons of fresh durians last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

The Central Highlands region, which is Vietnam's largest durian planting area, has entered its main season and will likely provide more supply for exports in the second half of the year, said Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of the country's Fruit and Vegetable Association. "If we can maintain the current growth rate, the total durian export volume for the year is likely to exceed last year's figure."

An increasing number of Vietnamese agricultural products have been approved for entry into the Chinese market in recent years, with China and Vietnam signing new protocols for chili peppers, passion fruits, and fresh jackfruits last year, as well as for pomelos and limes in April this year. Vietnam has over 20 types of fruits and vegetables approved for export to China.

Editor: Martin Kadiev