Chinese customs officials have confirmed an extension of operating hours and increased resources for durian inspections at the Mohan checkpoint on the Laos border. The closing time has shifted from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Additionally, the number of inspection laboratories will increase from three to five, with more officials involved to streamline processes.
Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang stated that discussions with customs officials confirmed that Thai durians are free from Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) dye and cadmium contamination. "Thailand urged customs personnel to communicate these findings to the central government in Beijing and requested a reduction from the rigorous 100% inspection requirement to 30%," he said.
The Department of International Trade Promotion and the Thai Commerce Office in Beijing are tasked with monitoring the situation. Previously, only 30% of durian imports were tested, but since January, all containers must be checked for BY2 and cadmium contamination by certified laboratories in Thailand, followed by a complete inspection at Chinese borders.
This increased scrutiny has led to delays, with transport times extending up to eight days. During peak seasons, inspection processes might extend to 10 days, potentially leading to delivery times of up to 20 days, possibly affecting the quality and sales of Thai durians.
Durian production is projected to rise by 37% year-on-year in 2025, reaching over 1.7 million tons. Last year, 97% of exports went to China, with projections of 1.3 million tons for this year. Domestic consumption is expected to grow to 400,000 tons.
Marketing initiatives and business matching activities are being organized to foster market expansion in China. Chinese entrepreneurs have shown interest in increasing their purchases, with plans to import 1,200 containers, up from 800 last year.
Source: Bangkok Post