Thai durian export dominance to China threatened by Vietnam

According to a resource in the industry, Thailand may be in danger of losing its top spot in the world for new fruits to China.

The Xinhua statement follows a recent review of 48, 000 tonnes of edible shipments being transported through Youyiguan, China’s key land border station, in the first quarter of this year.

Of that number, 35, 000 kilograms were durian from Vietnam and 13, 000 kilograms were from Thailand, the Chinese news organization said.

The figures showed a 48.1 % increase in Vietnamese exports and a 59.5 % drop in Thai supply.

According to the source, Thai durian shipments to China during this time decreased largely as a result of country rainfall and heat.

Last year, China imported 1.42 million tonnes of fresh durians, with 928, 644 tonnes supplied by Thailand ( 65.19 % ), while Vietnam shipped 492, 111 tonnes ( 34.55 % ), followed by the Philippines at 3, 770 tonnes ( 0.26 % ).

Additionally, data on edible consumption in China suggests that Thailand is in stark competition with Vietnam and the Philippines.

Prior to 2023, a significant supplier of fruits in China told Xinhua that the business had merely imported fruits from Thailand, but it needed to expand its provide sources to meet growing consumer demands.

Imports are then split between Thailand and Vietnam, the buyer told Xinhua. According to the news agency, Vietnam has a clear benefit over Thailand in terms of shorter travel times and lower costs. Since September 2022, Thailand’s business reveal has decreased, it said.

Thailand has work hard to maintain its competitivity, according to the report, by implementing stringent quality control procedures for its imports of coconut. To do that, Thailand needs to improve the performance of transportation and logistics, it said.

According to a Department of International Trade Promotion ( DITP ) official, China allows imports of fresh durians from three countries– Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Due to Vietnam’s restriction on durian exports to China in August of that year, when the Philippines started to supply them in early 2023, the market share in Thailand increased by more than 95 % in 2022, according to DITP.