The export value of Vietnam's durians in October was only US$212 million, down sharply from the previous month.

China is the largest overseas market for Vietnam's durians, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the country's total exports. Exports to China fell nearly 70 per cent sequentially and about 42 per cent year-on-year. Other major markets such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and South Korea were also down 40-56 per cent respectively from the previous month.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, explained that the main reason for the decline in exports was that climate change and weather extremes (prolonged precipitation and intense sunshine) greatly affected durian production and quality. The quality of many durians in Vietnam's main durian-producing regions of the Central Highlands and Southeast is not up to export standards.

Off-season durian production in the Southwest is also unsatisfactory, with only 30-50 per cent of fruit produced. The reason is that many fruit growers do not operate properly, and after inclement weather such as prolonged heavy rainfall occurs, the fruit trees go into heat shock and a large number of blossoms fall off resulting in a reduction in production.