Durian exporters head south to meet Chinese demand
Thai durian exporters are now shifting their focus to the south of the country to meet the growing demand for the fruit in China. Wanathasak Sua-yam, director general of Thailand's Foreign Trade Department, said traders at Morakot market in Chumphon province had passed on information to him that durian exporters from the eastern provinces had started buying durians grown in the southern provinces. Morakot market in Langsuan district of Chumphon province is the largest durian market in the south of the country. About 5,000 tons of durians are bought and sold here every day.
Vanatasak noted that about 50 durian exporters purchase fruits from this market for export, and they are not limited in purchase volumes. The durian harvest in the eastern provinces has already ended, while the harvest in the south is just beginning, so exporters from the east have turned their attention to the southern markets.
By next week, about 80% of durian exporters based in the east of the country will be buying fruit from the Morakot market, Wanatasaka said. In addition to exporters, about 300 processors and local distributors also purchase durians from this market. In the Morakot market, durians are priced between 120 to 135 baht per kilogram for premium fruits and 80 to 90 baht per kilogram for lower quality fruits.
China remains Thailand's largest durian export market, and Vanatasak noted that using large shipping ships has become a more convenient way to transport fruit from Thailand. The Ministry of Commerce has set up a task force to control durian exports, and it stands ready to assist individual exporters if problems arise, Vanatasak said.
.jpg)
Sanchai Puranachaikhiri, president of the Association of Thai Fresh Fruit Traders and Exporters, noted that producers in the south are now able to sell their fruits at good prices, and they are likely to rise further.
Thailand may need a
China's demand for Thai fruits continues to skyrocket and now Thailand may need a "big boat" to meet the demand. Fruit orders for the current Thai Golden Month and the Thai Durian Festival are already at 20 million baht, up 260% from the same period in 2022, according to the Overseas Industrial Trade Department (DITP), which organizes the events.
Festivals taking place in the metropolitan area with a population of 18.6 million people in the Lotus supermarket chain, owned by the Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokfand (CP Group). Fusit Ratanacul Sereroengrit, head of DITP, estimates that sales during these events will exceed 80 million baht, with intranet sales expected to exceed 500 million baht.
Thailand is already the world's largest fruit exporter to China, earning 168 billion baht in 2022, up 3.72% from the previous year. Chinese shoppers in Guangzhou are actively purchasing Thai durian, mangosteen, longan, rambutan and coconuts at festivals that offer discounts and demonstrations on peeling and eating these fruits.
The festivals are held in 56 branches of the Lotus network in Guangzhou and Guangdong province. Products are also sold at special prices through the Lotus Go APP and WeChat Miniprogram online platforms of Lotus supermarkets.
In Guangzhou, at the Grand View Mall, shoppers are offered a variety of durian varieties such as Mon Tong, Kang Yao and Puan Mi. Ice cream made from it, frozen durian and durian biscuits are also offered to customers. Recreational activities such as Muay Thai and traditional Thai dancing, as well as interactive games with fruit prizes, complete the festival atmosphere.
The atmosphere of the festival is also spreading on the Internet, where promotions and advertising campaigns are carried out on social networks such as Weibo, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, TikTok and expert bloggers. Meanwhile, retail chain CP is using big data analytics to reach as many Chinese consumers as possible.
Thai Durian Still 'King of Fruits' in Chinese Market as Desire for Thai Fruit Continues to Grow
In China's eastern Shandong province alone, bulk fruit importers generated 138 million baht in revenue, while supermarkets in the province ordered more than 200 million baht worth of durian.
Besides durian, other fruits from Thailand are also popular among Chinese consumers, including mangosteen, rambutan, longan, and coconuts. The quality of Thai fruits, their freshness and taste make them attractive to Chinese buyers.
Thailand exported more than 2.5 million tons of fresh and frozen fruits to China in 2022, generating revenues of 63.9 billion baht for the country, according to a report from the Thai Ministry of Commerce.
The demand for Thai fruits in China continues to grow and Thailand is actively developing its export capabilities to meet this demand. The expansion of the fruit shipping fleet and the holding of various festivals and events are helping to promote and popularize Thai products in the Chinese market.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
