Black Thorn Durian Sells Out Despite Premium Price Tag

Despite commanding prices 5-8 times higher than other varieties, Vietnam's premium Black Thorn durian is flying off the shelves, with demand consistently outstripping limited supply. While prices for common varieties like Ri6 and Monthong have dropped 20-30% year-on-year to VND55,000 and VND80,000-90,000 per kilogram respectively, Black Thorn prices remain firm. Hoa from Xuan Hoa Ward in Ho Chi Minh City has bought three Black Thorn durians this month, undeterred by the hefty price tag. "I prefer this type of durian because it has a thinner skin and more pulp," she says, adding that her family loves its creaminess. Loan, a fruit seller in the city’s Go Vap Ward, occasionally procures 100-200 kilograms of Black Thorn durians, most of which are sold to customers who pre-order. "For walk-in customers, six to seven out of 10 would ask for Black Thorn. Some leave their contact details and ask me to inform them when stocks arrive." She notes that the variety sells much faster than Musang King, even though both are considered premium. Durian traders attribute the variety’s high prices to limited supply, even in major producing regions like the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. Hien, a trader in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, says Black Thorn is sold at VND220,000-240,000 per kilogram at the farm gate. She receives numerous orders, some for tons of the fruit, but is only able to procure 400-500 kilograms every two to three days from farmers. "Many growers have only a few (Black Thorn durian) trees, and so procuring the fruit is very difficult." Many orchards in the Mekong Delta also have only a few dozen trees of the variety. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam has around 200,000 hectares under durian cultivation, with Black Thorn accounting for a minuscule share. Vo Tan Loi, chairman of the Dong Thap Durian Association, explains that Black Thorn durian trees produce high-quality fruit but have much lower yields than other varieties. A six-year-old Monthong durian tree, for instance, can produce 30-50 fruits a year, while Black Thorn yields less than half that amount. These low yields make farmers reluctant to expand cultivation, as higher prices do not necessarily translate to greater profitability for the variety.