Sanchai Puranachaikiri, president of the Thai Fresh Fruit Traders and Exporters Association, anticipates a 20% increase in durian supply from Thailand's eastern provinces. The main harvest is set to commence next month. Former president, Paiboon Wongchotesathit, forecasts the region's supply to reach 800,000 tons, potentially leading to a decrease in prices.
Paiboon stated, "Consumers will benefit from cheaper durians that are of better quality," as reported by the Bangkok Post.
Thailand's durian season spans from April to July, initially starting in the eastern region and then moving south, according to The Nation. The Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry projects a 37% year-on-year increase in durian production, reaching 1.76 million tons this year.
Last year, a heatwave affected the main durian harvest in Thailand, with temperatures peaking at 44.2 degrees Celsius, near the all-time high recorded in 2023. High temperatures impacted the durian quality, causing skin cracking or fiber drying, as explained by Sam Sin, development director at S&F Produce Group, to the South China Morning Post. Farmers reported accelerated ripening, affecting size and market value.
This year, Paiboon mentioned that farmers intend to distribute the harvest over four to five batches to mitigate oversupply and prevent a rush of unripe durians entering the market. He noted that this strategy aims to ensure consumers enjoy perfectly ripe durians this season.
Source: VNExpress