Agriculture & Food

Although the production of durian in Thailand has been affected by the weather this year, the sales of durian in eastern Thailand have reached a historic high, laying a good foundation for the export of durian in southern Thailand. The export of durian from southern Thailand began on June 10th and will continue until October.

According to import and export data, on June 10th, 14 provinces in southern Thailand began picking durians simultaneously. It is expected that the production of durian in southern Thailand this year will be about 670000 tons, with Chumphon Province alone accounting for more than half of the entire southern region. The expected production is 337376 tons, and China is the most important export market for durian in Chumphon Province.

Nuttakrit Oranhirunrak, Vice President of the Taichung Agricultural Enterprise Association in Tsim Chuen Province, Thailand, stated that it is expected that the total amount of durian exported from Thailand to China will exceed previous years. Import and export data shows that as of June 10th this year, Thailand exported 33000 containers of durian to China, far exceeding the 15000 containers three years ago. The abnormal weather in eastern Thailand has caused many durians to have poor shapes. According to import and export data, without the influence of the weather, the export volume to China will increase to 35000-4000 containers.

From a price perspective, the average price of durian in eastern Thailand has risen to 130 Thai baht/kg (26.9 yuan/kg), reaching the highest price on record. The price of Kadumtong durian can even reach as high as 300 Thai baht/kg (62.1 yuan/kg), while the prices of Monthong and Phuang Mani reach 250 Thai baht/kg (51.7 yuan/kg).

A durian exporter introduced that three years ago, the price of durian was 90 Thai baht/kg. This year, the average price started at 100 Thai baht, and in May, the average price even reached 200 Thai baht/kg. He hoped that the government could provide some logistics and market assistance in the durian harvest season next year, such as setting a logistics Price ceiling.

According to the import and export data of the Ministry of Agriculture of Agriculture in Thailand, from January to May 2023, Thailand will export 480000 tons of fresh durian to China, worth nearly 63 billion baht, about 13.04 billion yuan. According to import and export data, the Thai Ministry of Commerce has set a fruit export target of 4.44 million tons this year, and the export target for durian alone is as high as 100 billion Thai baht, approximately 20.05 billion yuan. From the current export situation, the export target of durian, which exceeds 20 billion yuan, is likely to be exceeded. (Translated from: International Fruit and Vegetable Report)