China has decided to import durian via official channels from Vietnam for three years starting from July 11.

Durian is the 11th fruit officially imported to China. File photo

The fruit would be imported through all overland border crossings.

The decision was made after four years of negotiations on market access and export protocols, making durian the 11th fruit imported from Vietnam after dragon fruit, watermelon, lychee, longan, banana, mango, jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteen, and passion fruit.

Vietnam’s durian has been sold to China for years now but under unofficial channels, making it the biggest importer of fresh Vietnamese durian. China has always been the largest export market for Vietnamese durians, accounting for an estimated 70% of Vietnam’s durian exports.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam’s 2021 durian output hit more than 642,000 tons in the crop ended at the end of 2021, up 15% on year.

Durian cultivation in Vietnam is primarily concentrated in the middle- and high-altitude areas in the country’s south and central regions. Vietnamese durians are mainly harvested from April to the end of July, with a smaller second harvest between October and March of the following year.

Vietnam’s durian has been shipped to a number of countries, mostly frozen.