Thailand shipped 2.17 million tons of fruit worth $4.9 billion to China last year, a Thai government official said. This is 3.72% more than the previous year. China imported fruit worth a total of $14.6 billion, of which nearly a third came from Thailand.
According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, the five most popular fruits exported to China are bananas, baby coconut, durian, pitahaya and longan. Durian is one of Thailand's most popular export fruits to China, with about 95% of imported durians coming from Thailand.
Thailand exports fruits to China in various forms - fresh, frozen, dried and processed - using three modes of transport: 51% by sea, 48% by land and less than 1% by air. However, in recent times land transport has become more popular among Thai exporters as it is cheaper.
The government spokesman noted that China continues to have a strong demand for fruits from all over the world, so this is a great opportunity for Thai farmers and business operators to improve the quality of Thai fruits for export. He also revealed that the government, in cooperation with local and foreign agencies, is promoting the export of more Thai fruits to China, with a focus on quality and speed of delivery.
