On May 14th, the news that “durian price dropped by half compared to last month” became a hot topic, sparking discussions among netizens. Mainland residents mentioned that the price of durian has been “halved”. The owner of a fruit chain store in Changsha stated that with a large batch of durians set to be available in June, prices may continue to decrease.
In recent days, topics like “durian price per kilogram dropping below 10 yuan – the previously high-grade durians could be sold for over 50 yuan per kilogram” and “5 durians for 100 yuan in Guangxi” have been trending online.
As May progresses, the price of durians has been consistently decreasing. Why has the price of durians been “halved”? Many fruit merchants have indicated that the concentrated ripening and market abundance of durians in May are the primary reasons behind the price drop.
Mr. Li, who has been engaged in the fruit business at Beijing Xinfadi Agricultural Wholesale Market for many years, expressed to the media that within the past month, he witnessed a “cliff-like drop” in durian prices, with prices changing significantly within a single day.
A report from “Huasheng Online” on May 13th revealed that after visiting numerous fruit stores in Changsha, it was observed that with Thai durians entering the peak season, durian prices were nearly halved compared to the same period last year. Industry insiders predict that durian prices may continue to decline in June.
Durian, being a well-known tropical fruit, is primarily cultivated in Southeast Asian countries, with Thailand being a major producer. Additionally, regions in China such as Guangdong and Hainan also grow durians.
Ms. Xiao, a resident of Changsha’s Kaifu District, is a big fan of durians. Every year when durians hit the market, she would visit fruit stores to make purchases. This year’s durian prices have pleasantly surprised her, stating, “Last year, around this time, the price of high-grade durians was approximately 90-100 yuan per kilogram, but this year prices are generally ranging between 50-60 yuan per kilogram, almost half the price.”
An advertisement outside a fruit chain store in Changsha’s Xinghanmen reads: “Gold Pillow Durian 47.6 yuan per kilogram, Special Price for Gan Yao Durian 39.8 yuan per kilogram.”
The store manager mentioned, “Durian prices have dropped rapidly recently, with prices changing almost daily. Two days ago, ripe Gold Pillow Durians were priced at 72 yuan per kilogram, but today the average price has dropped by more than 20 yuan per kilogram.” Due to the high cost-effectiveness of durians this year, the store’s sales have been very optimistic, able to sell nearly 30 durians in just one evening.
In another fruit store at Xinghanmen, palm-sized Gold Pillow Durians were prominently displayed at the entrance. Three to four customers were patiently waiting for their durians to be packaged by the store staff.
A customer, Ms. Chen, mentioned, “The palm-sized durian is priced at 71.6 yuan per kilogram, typically not exceeding two kilograms. My small durian hasn’t even crossed 40 yuan yet, with a high yield of edible fruit, making it perfect for satisfying cravings alone.”
The store owner explained that with the current bulk release of durians, “but the prices have not hit rock bottom yet, with a substantial amount expected to enter the market in June, potentially causing prices to continue on a downward trend.”
Due to its excellent taste, small seed size, and high flesh yield, the Thai Gold Pillow Durian has become one of the most favored durian varieties among Chinese consumers in recent years. Data from e-commerce platforms shows that durian sales have increased by over 50% annually over the last four years.