Consumers select durian at a supermarket in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, on May 11. JIA MINJIE/FOR CHINA DAILY
Durian prices are tumbling as booming imports, faster logistics and a wave of seasonal fruit make the tropical fruit increasingly affordable for consumers.
Prices for some durian varieties have fallen 10 percent to 20 percent from a year earlier, according to wholesale market data and retailers. Durian that once sold for as much as 300 yuan ($44) to 400 yuan each can now be found for less than 100 yuan in some markets, fueling social media buzz around achieving "durian freedom" — a phrase used by Chinese consumers to describe "unlimited" access to previously expensive foods.
Thailand's Monthong durian, the dominant variety in the market, traded at an average wholesale price of 24.15 yuan per 500 grams at Beijing Xinfadi wholesale market on Tuesday, roughly flat from a year ago, but down 14 percent from early April.
Vietnamese Monthong durians have seen steeper declines, with wholesale prices dropping to about 18 yuan per 500 grams, down more than 40 percent from the previous month and over 30 percent from a year earlier, according to market data.
