Against the backdrop of growing agricultural output, investment in and upgrading transport infrastructure not only helps ease transport pressures but also reduces logistics costs and transit times, enhances competitiveness and expands market access for agricultural produce.

Dak Lak currently has a diverse transport system comprising roads, railways, air transport and seaports. Particularly, road transport remains the primary mode for agricultural produce. However,  transport capacity on many routes has yet to keep pace with the rapid expansion of production areas.

National Highway 14 is a major transport artery linking Dak Lak's production areas with the Central Highlands and Ho Chi Minh City, while carrying large volumes of agricultural produce to collection, processing and consumption facilities. In addition, National Highways 26 and 27, together with provincial roads, continue to link production areas with neighbouring localities.

National Highway 26 through Ea Knuec Commune frequently congested during the peak durian harvest season.

Despite investment and upgrades, these roads remain under heavy traffic pressure, particularly during peak harvest season. National Highway 26, which runs through major durian-growing areas such as Krong Pac and Ea Knuec, has seen a sharp rise freight traffic.

In practice, Dak Lak still has significant room to develop commercial agriculture, while agricultural exports are playing an increasingly important role in the province's economic growth. If transport infrastructure fails to keep pace with production growth, high transport costs and prolonged transit times will become hidden costs that undermine competitiveness.

Expectations from expressways

The implementation of key transport projects is raising expectations that Dak Lak's connectivity bottlenecks will be progressively removed.

Notably, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway is expected to provide a major boost for connectivity between the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast, with construction approximately 88% complete by mid-August 2026. Once completed, the expressway will shorten transit times, strengthen logistics connectivity and facilitate the development of cold storage, preliminary processing and processing facilities, as well as collection centres in production areas.

The Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway will provide an additional transport connection and shorten transit times for agricultural produce once completed.

According to Mr. Tran Van Thang, Director of the Krong Pac Green Agriculture Cooperative, transport time is particularly important for fresh produce. Durian from growing areas in Krong Pac is currently transported mainly via National Highway 26, which is already under heavy traffic pressure. Once the expressway is completed, agricultural produce will have an additional convenient transport route, helping ease pressure on National Highway 26.

Meanwhile, the Eastern bypass section of Ho Chi Minh Road in Buon Ma Thuot is nearing completion of traffic safety works. Once operational, the road is expected to reduce traffic pressure in urban areas while strengthening connectivity between major transport routes and production and business areas.

In response to growing demand for freight transport, synchronised investment in transport infrastructure, capacity improvements on existing routes and accelerated progress on key transport projects are essential to reduce logistics costs, shorten transit times, enhance competitiveness and expand market access for Dak Lak’s agricultural produce.

Translated by KHUONG THAO