Vietnam Targets $4 Billion Durian Exports by 2026, Eyes Indian Market

Vietnam is setting an ambitious target to boost durian export value to around $4 billion by 2026. The official permission for fresh durian exports to India is providing a significant boost towards achieving this goal. India has indicated it will waive additional phytosanitary declaration requirements on the phytosanitary certificate and impose no special import conditions for the product, opening up a promising market for Vietnamese durian. Domestically, Dak Lak province is a key durian production hub, with approximately 41,000 hectares of durian cultivation expected to yield nearly 500,000 tonnes this year. The province has already secured growing-area codes for about 7,500 hectares and has 41 packing facilities approved for export. In 2025, the durian sector in Dak Lak alone contributed about $1.1 billion to the country's export turnover. Durian exports in the first six months of 2026 reached nearly $1.1 billion, a 32% year-on-year increase, fueling optimism for further demand growth. Vietnam's overall fruit and vegetable exports have also seen strong growth in recent years, rising from about $7 billion in 2024 to $8.6 billion in 2025, and are projected to surpass $10 billion in 2026. The robust performance of durian exports is expected to further accelerate this overall growth. Under Vietnam's single-party system, export promotion for the agricultural sector is a key pillar of national economic strategy. Expanding exports of high-value agricultural products directly contributes to increasing farmer incomes and revitalizing rural economies. The government supports the entire value chain, from production and processing to export. Diversifying export destinations, such as opening up the large Indian market, is strategically important, especially given the high dependence on the Chinese market for many agricultural products. In broader economic news, Vietnam's total import-export turnover reached $770.14 billion in the first eight months of 2026, the highest figure ever recorded for the period, marking a 28.7% year-on-year increase. This indicates that Vietnam's economy continues to maintain strong export-led growth amidst global economic uncertainties. Source: VietnamPlus English