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Ri 6 durian prices have also risen from VND40,000 to VND70,000 in the Mekong Delta, the main supplier of durian now that the Central Highlands’ harvest season has ended.

Prices of lower-grade Monthong and Ri 6 durians have also risen to VND100,000 and VND55,000 per kilogram, respectively.

Prices plummeted in late October when laboratories paused testing due to technical issues, preventing businesses from obtaining the certificates needed for exporting to China and causing thousands of containers of the fruit to be stuck at warehouses, packing facilities and the Chinese border. Things were resolved and shipments resumed in early November.

Manh Khuong, a merchant in the delta, said the price increase is largely due to the rebound in exports but also a drop in supply after the main season.

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said much cheaper durians can be found in certain places, but these are likely “inferior” that did not meet the quality standards for export.

It said this year output is down due to flooding and some farmers skipping the off-season to prepare their trees for the main harvest in March-April.

Thanh, a farmer who is harvesting durian in the delta’s Tien Giang Province, said, though the fruit is fetching more, his profits are lower this year as costs increased by 10-15% due to floods.

Total fruit and vegetable exports in November rose 65% year-on-year to $754 million, data from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association shows.

Shipments in the first 11 months totaled $7.8 billion, with durian accounting for more than $3 billion. China remains the biggest market for Vietnamese agricultural products.