Vietnamese Fresh Durian Officially Approved for Export to India

Vietnamese Fresh Durian Officially Approved for Export to India

India has officially approved the import of fresh Vietnamese durians, opening access to a market of 1.4 billion consumers and providing Vietnamese exporters with an opportunity to diversify export destinations while reducing reliance on traditional markets.

On July 30, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment announced that India has added Vietnam to its list of countries authorized to export fresh durians to the Indian market. The decision took effect in mid-July.

Indian authorities have not imposed any special import requirements or additional phytosanitary declaration procedures for Vietnamese fresh durians.

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the opening of the 1.4-billion-consumer market is the result of extensive technical discussions between the two countries. This milestone will enable Vietnamese agricultural exporters to diversify their export markets and reduce dependence on a limited number of traditional destinations.

However, the Department noted that India remains a new market for Vietnamese durians. During the initial stage, the fruit is expected to be sold mainly in major cities through premium retail chains, restaurants, hotels, and e-commerce platforms. Therefore, exporters are advised to carefully study consumer preferences, product specifications, logistics, and distribution networks to develop effective market-entry strategies.

The Department also pointed out that India’s market opening comes at a time when Vietnam’s durian industry is actively seeking to diversify its export markets following recent challenges in international trade.

Earlier this year, exports to China—the largest destination for Vietnamese durians—declined significantly after Chinese authorities tightened quality control measures, including stricter inspections on chemical residues and product traceability. As a result, many shipments experienced customs clearance delays, while domestic purchasing prices dropped sharply.

Meanwhile, domestic durian production continues to increase as more growing areas enter their peak harvesting season. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam produced approximately 603,300 metric tons of durians in the first half of this year, representing a 12.7% year-on-year increase compared with the same period in 2025, the highest growth rate among the country’s major fruit crops.