Southern Dong Nai province held a ceremony on June 16 for the export of the first batch of 360 tons of durian to China.

The shipment is being made following a protocol signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and China’s General Administration of Customs.

Six firms have been granted export codes to China via the Tan Thanh, Huu Nghi, and Mong Cai border gates, with 20 containers carrying 360 tons of durian.

Dong Nai plans to export 20,000 tons of the fruit to China this year.

With a total growing area of over 11,300 ha, Dong Nai leads the southern region and is fourth nationwide in terms of durian cultivation area. The harvest area totals nearly 6,600 ha and production is estimated at around 69,000 tons this year.

Dong Nai has actively developed cultivation area codes and export packaging facilities for the Chinese market. It currently has eleven durian growing areas granted export codes, covering 820 ha.