In Vietnam's Mekong Delta, durians rejected during export inspections are being sold at approximately $1.14 per kilogram, marking a 10-year price low. These fruits are appearing on roadsides in Can Tho City and Hau Giang Province with signs advertising their reduced prices.
Currently, traders offer $1.90 to $2.85 per kilogram at the farm gate. Industry insiders attribute these low prices to durians that fell prematurely due to weather conditions, which are typically rejected by exporters. Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T, stated, "We are buying durian at $1.90 per kilogram, and fruits sold at $1.14 are highly unlikely to meet export standards."
Farmers are experiencing reduced yields due to unfavorable weather. Hoang, a farmer in Tien Giang Province, sold his durians at $1.63 per kilogram, noting a 30% drop in yield. Similarly, Hung, a farmer in Can Tho, reported a 20% decrease in output, stating, "All farms I know saw yields decline by 20-40%. Prices, therefore, cannot go too low."
Ngoc Diem, who sells these durians at lower prices, informs customers that despite falling prematurely, the fruits are suitable for cooking. However, trader Manh Khuong advises caution, warning against purchasing very low-priced fruits as their edibility is uncertain.
Source VNExpress