Performances within the framework of the 2026 Dak Lak Durian Festival are expected to connect policy, science, technology, along with businesses to open up more export opportunities, diminish reliance on a single market, combined with enhance the provincial crucial agricultural product value.

Dak Lak province, the national durian capital, boasts approximately 41,000 hectares of durian cultivation, attaining a 446,000-ton output in 2025, generating an export turnover of around 1.1 billion USD, while projected to reach the 500,000-ton mark in the 2026 harvest season.

However, the rapid expansion of cultivation areas alongside output faces significant bottlenecks regarding quality management coupled with technical standards. Wholly province has currently had 280 growing areas (covering 7,500 hectares) along with 41 fresh durian packing facilities approved for export codes. Simultaneously, 253 growing area codes covering approximately 6,532 hectares along with 92 packing facilities are still awaiting approval from China. The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)’s stricter inspections regarding food safety criteria are imposing rigorous compliance requirements.

A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspecting growing area codes in Dak Lak.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu from the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) suggests that the durian industry needs to place greater emphasis on quality, varieties, cultivation techniques, combined with the ability to satisfy specific market requirements, rather than simply pursuing higher output volumes.

Technological innovation and sustainable chain linkages

To overcome technical barriers coupled with enhance competitiveness, the fundamental solution lies in innovating post-harvest technology, promoting deep processing, combined with digitizing traceability.

Research by the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology indicates that post-harvest losses in the traditional durian supply chain reach 27.3%, with cold chain disruptions during transportation accounting for 43.6% of this figure. Adding cold storage systems along with restructuring the value chain could diminish losses to 14.8% while increasing the product’s retail value by 51%.

Frozen durian processing helping boost the product’s value.

Representatives from the Institute note that the majority of value-added potential lies in deep processing stage. Currently, approximately 29.4% of frozen durian meets Grade A standards, while the remainder can be processed into pulp, paste, puree, or powder. Mastering cold chain management in coordination with Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology will help enhance product value as well as alleviate the pressure to purchase fresh durian during the peak harvest season.

In addition to technological solutions, on-site testing infrastructure plays a crucial role for export shipments. A representative from Viet Xanh Science and Technology JSC (Dak Lak branch) noted that a single container of export durian is valued at between 1 billion VND and 2 billion VND, whereas the comprehensive testing cost accounts for less than 1.5% of the shipment’s value. Obtaining ISO/IEC 17025-compliant test certificates prior to dispatch enables businesses to minimize the shipment rejection risk alongside significant financial losses.

Establishing a consistent durian ecosystem requires a synchronized approach covering production, growing area codes, testing, cold chain logistics, processing, as well as branding and trade promotion. The province expects the 2026 Durian Festival to foster substantive, long-term, together with effective cooperation commitments.

Translated by TRINH THUY