THE price of durian remains at P100 per kilogram (kg) at the Magsayay Fruit Stand and is expected to stay around that price until next month.
“The supply of the durian fruit is still very low until now because of the drought we had in the past years,” Ellen Ayoala, one of the vendors at the fruit stand, said in the vernacular during an interview on Sunday, August 05, 2018 at Magsaysay Fruit Vendors Association, Magsaysay Park.
Ayoala added that this year, they are not expecting the price of durian to match its lowest recorded price of P20/kg in 2015.
“There is much difference now, compared before. The supply is low because we are not the only ones buying the fruit. Many countries are also asking for it,” Ayoala said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported a 20.52-percent decline in durian production volume in Davao Region to 53,805.71 metric tons (MT) in 2016 from 67,697.44 MT in 2015.
For Davao City, PSA recorded a decrease in durian production from 37,181 MT in 2016 to 35,766 MT in 2017.
“Also, the trees are not bearing that much compared than in the recent years,” Ayoala said.
The number of durian trees in the region decreased by 2.76 percent to 818,270 durian trees in 2016 from 841,476 durian trees in 2015.
“It is hard for the prices to be that low compared before,” Ayoala added.
The durian industry marked 2015 as its banner year for the durian industry for reaching 49,831 MT the highest since 1990.
However, Durian Industry Council of Davao City (DICDC) president Larry Miculob said through a phone interview that they are still expecting price decrease for durian is seen for the month of August.
“Price may range as low as P25 for street vendors up to P60 at known durian-selling outlets depending on varieties. And we are looking at a much lower price compared last year,” Miculob said.