Few products have changed Vietnam's export picture as quickly as durian. Just a few years ago the fruit barely appeared in the trade figures. In 2025 Vietnam shipped about US$3.9 billion of fresh and frozen durian, a record, which made it the country's biggest single fruit export and close to half of all fruit and vegetable exports. The whole fruit and vegetable sector reached about US$8.5 billion, also a record, and has set a target of US$10 billion.
For importers, traders and analysts, the key question is simple: who sells durian, to whom, and in what form? This guide explains the HS codes for fresh and frozen durian, the China market that takes almost all of it, how Vietnam compares with Thailand and how to find exporters in Vietnam durian export data.
Vietnam Durian Exports: Key Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Durian export value | About US$3.9 billion, a record (up from about US$3.3 billion) | 2025 versus 2024 |
| Share of fruit and vegetable exports | About 45% | 2025 |
| Total fruit and vegetable exports | About US$8.5 billion, a record | 2025 |
| Fresh durian shipped to China | About 940,000 tonnes, up 27.7% | 2025 |
| China's share of Vietnam's fresh durian revenue | About 94.5% | January to November 2025 |
| Frozen durian exports | About US$600 million | 2025 estimate |
| Durian exports | About US$293 million, up 59.7% | January to April 2026 |
The pattern in 2025 was a weak first half followed by a strong recovery. By the end of August combined fresh and frozen durian exports were still below the year before, but September and October brought record months and the year closed at an all-time high. The early months of 2026 started even faster, with exports in January alone up 275% to over US$117 million.
HS Codes for Durian
Fresh durian has its own 6-digit code, which makes it one of the easiest fruit to trace. Frozen and processed durian sit in broader fruit codes, so you need the product description to identify them.
| HS code | What it covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0810.60 | Durians, fresh | The main code for whole fresh fruit |
| 0811.90 | Other fruit, frozen | Frozen whole durian and frozen flesh sit here, so look for "durian" in the description |
| 0813.40 | Other dried fruit | Dried and freeze-dried durian |
| 2007, 2008 | Jams, purées and prepared fruit | Durian paste, filling and snacks |
| 0810.90 | Other fresh fruit | Where other Vietnamese fruits such as dragon fruit and jackfruit appear |
Vietnam vs Thailand in China
China is by far the largest durian market in the world. Chinese import figures show that it bought about US$7.5 billion of fresh durian in 2025, around 1.87 million tonnes, and durian alone makes up close to 40% of China's fruit imports. Thailand and Vietnam supply nearly all of it.
For the first time Vietnam passed Thailand on volume in 2025, shipping about 940,000 tonnes. Thailand still led on value, with about US$4.0 billion against about US$3.44 billion for Vietnam. In the first eleven months, Thailand held about 50.4% of China's durian imports and Vietnam about 49.3%, up from 47.1% a year earlier. Vietnam's advantage is its land border with China, which shortens transit times and supports a year-round supply, while Thailand relies on longer routes.
| Measure | Thailand | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Value of fresh durian sold to China, 2025 | About US$4.0 billion | About US$3.44 billion |
| Volume, 2025 | Slightly lower than Vietnam | About 940,000 tonnes, first time ahead |
| Share of China's durian imports, Jan to Nov 2025 | About 50.4% | About 49.3% |
| Main advantage | Premium quality and long-established brand | Land border, year-round supply, lower transport time |
Fresh or Frozen: Where Growth Is Going
Frozen durian is now the fastest-growing part of the trade. In 2025 China imported about 180,000 tonnes of frozen durian worth about US$1.1 billion, up about 58% in volume and 30% in value, while fresh durian imports grew only about 20% in volume. Vietnam's frozen durian exports reached an estimated US$600 million, and its frozen product now competes on equal terms with Thai frozen durian in the Chinese market. Industry leaders expect frozen and processed products to grow from a small share to 30 to 40% of Vietnam's durian export value in the next few years.
| Feature | Fresh durian | Frozen durian |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 0810.60 | 0811.90 (check the description) |
| Shelf life | Short, needs fast transport | Long, easier to ship far |
| Transport | Trucks across the northern border and refrigerated containers | Frozen containers by sea or road |
| Growth in China, 2025 | About 20% in volume | About 58% in volume |
| Other target markets | Limited by transit time | Better suited to markets such as India |
Reading Durian Terms in a Shipment Record
| Term in the record | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ri6 | A popular Vietnamese durian variety with rich yellow flesh | Common in premium and export lots |
| Monthong (Dona) | Another leading variety, sold under the name Dona in Vietnam | Mild flavour, long shelf life |
| Fresh, whole | Fresh fruit in the husk | Falls under 0810.60 |
| Frozen whole or frozen flesh | Whole fruit or pulp frozen | Falls under 0811.90 |
| Grade A, B | Size, shape and ripeness grades | Decide the price per kilogram |
| Reefer container | Temperature-controlled shipping container | Shows long-distance or frozen shipment |
| Kilograms or tonnes | Unit of measure | Convert to the same unit before comparing prices |
Where Vietnamese Durian Is Grown
Most durian comes from the Central Highlands, with Dak Lak among the leading areas, and from the Mekong Delta and the south-east. Orchards have expanded fast, and the main harvest brings strong supply in the middle of the year, which is why Vietnam can ship when other Southeast Asian suppliers are not in season.
How to Find Durian Exporters in the Records
- Search HS 0810.60 for fresh durian exports over the last 12 months, then search 0811.90 with the word "durian" for frozen products.
- Group by exporter and rank by value and tonnes shipped.
- Check the season. Shipments should peak in the main harvest months. A supplier with exports out of season may be selling frozen product or trading in fruit from others.
- Check the buyers. At present almost all exports go to China, so a supplier already shipping to other markets such as the United States, Japan or India stands out.
- Compare price per kilogram for the same variety, grade and form.
- Verify the company with our guide on checking a supplier before you contact them.
What to Watch in 2026
- Frozen and processed durian: the fastest-growing part of the trade, with room to sell into more countries.
- New markets: exporters are exploring India, Japan and others to reduce reliance on China.
- Quality and consistency: industry leaders say export value could settle at US$4.5 to 5 billion a year if quality stays high, and could fall quickly if it does not.
- Price levels: with more supply from Vietnam and other producers, very high durian prices are expected to ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for durian?
Fresh durian is classified under HS 0810.60. Frozen durian is usually in 0811.90, and dried durian in 0813.40.
How much durian does Vietnam export?
About US$3.9 billion in 2025, a record, which is around 45% of the country's fruit and vegetable exports.
Who buys Vietnamese durian?
China buys almost all of it, about 94.5% of fresh durian export revenue in the first eleven months of 2025.
Does Vietnam export more durian than Thailand?
To China, Vietnam passed Thailand on volume in 2025, but Thailand still earned more in value.
Search Durian Export Data
Ready to build a list of durian exporters? Open Vietnam durian export data to search HS 0810.60 and 0811.90 by exporter, buyer, form and price. If you need help matching a variety or grade to the right record, send us an enquiry.
Disclaimer: Vietnam Import Export Data provides shipment records and trade datasets. We do not buy or sell any products. For purchasing or selling enquiries, please contact the importers and exporters listed in our datasets.
