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Shipments of the fruit were worth $300 million, and helped sustain growth in fruit and vegetable exports even as those of several other items declined, official data shows.

High-quality Monthong durian is being purchased at orchards for VND140,000–150,000 (US$5.7) per kilogram, and Ri6 durian for VND80,000–84,000, 30–50% higher from a year ago.

Lobster exports to China topped $259 million, with that of green lobsters increasing by 32%.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said China remains a major market for fresh products, especially in the period before and after Lunar New Year, which falls between mid-January and mid-February.

Improvements in quality, greater transparency in origin and higher traceability have helped boost the competitiveness of lobsters, it added.

Lobsters seen at a restaurant in HCMC. Photo by Read/Thi Ha

Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the jump in durian exports was driven by the resolution of quarantine- bottlenecks and seasonal advantages.

While some countries have completed their harvest of the fruit, Vietnam’s off-season supply coincides with peak demand in China during the Lunar New Year, leading to a sharp increase in orders, he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said the growth reflects sustained demand for Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and signals great prospects for market expansion.

But fisheries supply remains constrained, with many shrimp farmers in the south-central region saying their farms were affected by storms late last year.

Off-season durian output too has declined by 30–40% this year due to weather conditions.