China's durian industry is expanding, with Hainan Youqi Agricultural Company leading the way as the largest durian grower in the country. Located in Hainan, the only tropical province in China, Youqi has planted over 200,000 durian trees. Commercial durian farming in China began gaining momentum in 2018, with Hainan as the central hub due to its favorable climate.
Last year, Youqi's yield reached 260 tons, a significant increase from their 2023 harvest of 50 tons. This year's output is projected to be between 500-600 tons, with demand already secured before the fruits mature. "These durians will be completely pre-sold by the time they grow to ping-pong-ball size," stated Du Baizhong, Youqi's general manager, to the South China Morning Post.
Investment is flowing into emerging durian farms in Hainan and other areas like Yunnan and Guangxi. Michael Wang, a durian farming expert, organized over 800 investment sessions last year. The area dedicated to durian cultivation in China has reportedly doubled annually.
Despite the industry's growth, Du remains cautious about the potential to replace imports, as China's durian imports have consistently set new records. In 2024, imports reached 1.56 million tons, overshadowing Youqi's production. Local growers face challenges such as limited experience, unpredictable weather, and higher labor costs, making it difficult to compete with Southeast Asian producers on price. Chinese-grown Monthong durians were priced twice as high as Thai ones last year.
Du remarked, "Southeast Asia probably doesn't need to care about China's small-scale cultivation because we are not a real competitor." Even if Hainan were fully planted with durians, it would not meet domestic demand. Efforts to increase production face obstacles, including Hainan's limited capacity and susceptibility to typhoons, as reported by The Nation.
Feng Xuejie from the Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences noted the scarcity of suitable land in China for durian cultivation. He suggested focusing on high-end, quality products. Du echoed this sentiment, citing Japan's focus on quality due to limited land. Efforts are underway to develop durian varieties suited for colder climates, but breakthroughs may take time.
Some investors are exploring regions like Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, though it remains uncertain if these areas can rival Hainan's development. Currently, China's durian demand is primarily met by Southeast Asia, with Thailand and Vietnam as major suppliers.
Source: VNExpress