According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, in 2021, Thailand exported durians worth 2.3 billion US dollars to China, a total of 580,000 tons, an annual increase of 44%. In 2022, durian production in eastern Thailand is expected to increase by 20% year-on-year, reaching a total tonnage of 721,000 tons. In addition, mangosteen is also increasing in production, with an estimated total tonnage of 194,000 tons. China is an irreplaceable market for Thai durian and mangosteen, accounting for more than 80%.
Minister of the Thai Agricultural Cooperative Society, gave instructions on the 2022 Thai fruit export season and put forward the slogan of "clearing to zero" in order to cooperate with the strict epidemic prevention measures taken by the Chinese government during the pandemic. The first is to eliminate the problem of raw durian, and the second is to ensure that the export of fruit is free of COVID-19. To achieve this goal requires the joint assistance of the government, enterprises and fruit farmers.
Every year, the durian fruit season in Thailand starts from the three provinces of Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat in the east, and then moves to Chumphon in the south-central and extends to the three provinces in southern Thailand. However, the huge consumer demand has led to the production of improved durian varieties in some provinces in the north and northeast. This also makes Thai durian basically available all year round, but the amount is too small in the off-season and cannot be exported on a large scale.
According to the feedback from the commercial officials of the Thai Ministry of Commerce in China, Chinese female consumers are the main consumers of Thai fruits, and the age range of online shopping is mainly among young people between the ages of 24 and 30. However, it was learned from relevant departments that the most feasible time for Thai fruits to enter the Chinese market, when taking the China-Laos high-speed railway, should be in the second half of the year, that is, the end of the eastern durian season and the transition period for the southern durian to be put in the market.
Source: thaizhonghua.com