China Durian Imports Drop: Stricter Checks
China’s fresh durian imports have plummeted, decreasing by nearly one-third this year. The primary cause? Stricter sanitation checks at the border, impacting the flow of this popular fruit. Vietnamese exporters have been hit hardest, experiencing a significant drop in durian shipments. While Thailand remains the top supplier of fresh durians to china, this crackdown on quality raises questions about the future of the durian trade. Experts point to the need for exporters to adapt to these new regulations and meet stringent standards. News Directory 3 brings you the latest on market trends and the economic impact. Discover what’s next for durian exporters as they navigate these changes.
China’s Fresh Durian Imports Plummet Amid Stricter Checks
Hong Kong-China’s imports of fresh durians have significantly decreased this year due to heightened sanitation inspections at the border. According to the General Management of Customs, the value of fresh durian imports fell by 32.5% to $1.93 billion during the first five months of 2025. Volume also declined by 32.9%, totaling 390,900 tonnes.
Vietnam has been notably affected,experiencing a nearly 62% drop in both value and volume of durians shipped to China,totaling $254 million. Thailand’s imports to China decreased by 24% to $1.67 billion, even though the volume decline was slightly less. Despite the drop, Thailand remains China’s primary source for durian imports, followed by Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.
The decline is attributed to stricter enforcement of safeguards against pesticides and other sanitation concerns. Experts suggest that exporters may need time to adapt to these new regulations to maintain thier durian export role.
Nguyen Thanh trung, a political scientist at Fulbright University vietnam, said Vietnamese growers and traders must meet the required standards. “This year I think they may be affected a lot, but growers and traders will learn,” Trung said.
sam Sin, development director at S&F Produce Group in Hong Kong, noted changes in China’s customs policy regarding pesticide residue levels. The durian trade is substantial in China,where a 6-kilogram durian can sell for about 200 yuan ($27.87). The fruit is popular among middle-class families and is frequently enough used in desserts and as gifts.
Chinese supermarkets maintain high food safety standards.Earlier this year, customs officials inspected all durian shipments for toxic yellow dye and heavy metals, according to VietnamNet.Nhan Dan reported in April that durians shipped to China accounted for 57.6% of Vietnam’s total durian exports in January, down from 92% the previous year, due to China’s stricter controls.
Lim Chin Khee, an adviser to the Durian Academy, said China has tightened customs inspections and quality control for fruit shipments. the General administration of Customs has not yet commented on the matter.
Huynh Xuan Son, a durian grower in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam, said the lack of local fruit testing laboratories causes delays in export approvals, impacting competitiveness against Thailand. Vietnam is a relatively new source of durians for China, and some Vietnamese growers are still adapting to export-quality sanitation standards.
Dan Martin, an international business adviser with Dezan Shira & Associates, noted Thailand’s rapid establishment of farm-level testing facilities, which quickly restored China’s trust. “vietnamese exporters, though, remain shut out by repeated border rejections stemming from contaminant detection and a glaring lack of screening systems before fruit ever leaves the farm,” Martin said.
What’s next
Vietnamese exporters will likely focus on improving sanitation and testing processes to regain market share in China. Increased investment in local fruit testing laboratories could also help streamline export approvals and enhance competitiveness in the global fruit market.