Davao durian breaks into Oman market with first 1-ton trial shipment

DAVAO CITY  (August 6)  — Davao’s durian industry has secured a foothold in the Middle East after a trial shipment of 1.08 tons of fresh durian was sent to Oman, opening a new export market beyond the fruit’s established Chinese destination.

The shipment consisted of 56 boxes of Puyat and Duyaya durian grown in Calinan, Davao City. It was exported by Engseng Food Products, sourced from Belviz Farms and consigned to Jeel Almaaly International for delivery to Oman’s Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.

The initial shipment was valued at about $3,000, or roughly P183,000, according to the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-XI).

For an industry that has increasingly depended on the China market, the Oman shipment offers a potentially important second outlet—although the relatively small trial volume also underscores that Davao’s Middle East market is still at the testing stage.

DA-XI Regional Executive Director Macario Gonzaga said Oman’s entry into the market is another opportunity for durian farmers, particularly as demand from China continues.

“Aside from China, we have now Oman as the second country na gusto gyud mokuha o mupalit sa atong durian,” Gonzaga said during the shipment send-off at the Engseng facility.

He described the initial shipment as a challenge for farmers to sustain production and quality as Davao seeks to expand its international market base.

“We hope that this (shipments) will continue. This is a challenge na atong ipaabot sa atong durian farmers na nagsugod na. Aside sa kadaghan na demand sa China market, naa na pud ta lain merkado,” Gonzaga said.

Quality becomes the next hurdle

The opening of another export destination also puts greater pressure on farmers and exporters to maintain consistent quality.

Gonzaga urged growers to focus on quality from production through post-harvest handling to ensure that shipments meet international requirements.

“Pagsugod pa lang atimanon na ninyo kay kinihanglan nato ang quality sa produkto nga mugawas maayo jud makapasa sa international standards,” he said.

The challenge is significant because export expansion is not simply a matter of finding buyers. Sustained shipments require farmers and exporters to consistently meet the quality, food safety, packaging and other requirements of overseas markets.

For Davao, the Oman shipment provides an early test of whether the region can turn a one-time trial order into a regular trade route.

China remains the bigger market

Oman is the latest addition to Davao’s growing durian export story, but China remains the industry’s major overseas destination.

Davao began shipping fresh durian to China in 2023, initially exporting Puyat, Duyaya, D-101 and Cob varieties. By 2025, frozen durian from the region had also entered the Chinese market.

Gonzaga said China continues to import durian from Davao, contradicting reports circulating that exports to the country had been suspended.

The clarification is important for growers who have expanded production in response to the strong Chinese demand.

The entry into Oman could provide some diversification and reduce the industry’s dependence on a single major foreign market. But for farmers, the bigger test is whether demand can be sustained beyond trial shipments.

The 1.08-ton Oman shipment is a small start. Turning it into a durable Middle East market will depend on whether Davao can consistently supply the volume and quality that international buyers require.

For now, the message from DA-XI is clear: the market is expanding, but so must the industry’s ability to meet it.