Vietnam’s Durian Exports Plummeted by 69.4% Due to Cadmium Barriers, Bầu Đức Reveals ‘Ace’: 1,600 Hectares in Laos and 20,000 m² Cold Storage for Frozen Durian to Sell at 50% Higher Off-season Prices

Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) is heavily investing in the durian sector, currently managing 2,140 hectares with plans to expand to 3,140 hectares. HAGL employs high-standard cultivation technologies from Thailand to enhance product quality. Notably, they invested 20,000 m² in cold storage for frozen durian, allowing year-round sales at higher prices during Tet. In the first nine months of 2025, fruit revenue reached nearly 4,408 billion VND. However, durian exports face challenges from stricter metal content regulations from China, resulting in a 69.4% drop early in 2025. To mitigate risks, 80% of durian acreage is in Laos, where regulations are more lenient. Despite numerous obstacles, HAGL reported durian export earnings of nearly 2.77 billion USD in nine months, with September sales hitting a record high of 972 million USD.