8-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Thai exporters and government authorities are facing renewed pressure to ramp up durian exports to China following Vietnam’s ascendancy as the leading “king of fruits” exporter. Recent data from the Vietnamese newspaper Dan Viet indicates Vietnam’s dominance in the Chinese durian market, with a market share surge to 57% in January and February, up from 32% the previous year.
The report highlights China’s substantial durian imports, amounting to 53,110 tons valued at US$283.6 million in the first two months of the year. Thailand, meanwhile, secured its position as the second-largest durian exporter to China, shipping 19,016 tons valued at $120.3 million.
Vietnam’s advantage lies in its year-round durian harvest, particularly during periods when Thai durian production is dormant. With a competitive price of US$4.916 per tonne compared to Thailand’s $6.133 per tonne, coupled with geographical proximity, Vietnam enjoys swift export opportunities to China.
This development echoes a report by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion in December last year, which signalled Vietnam’s emergence as China’s primary durian supplier, displacing Thailand in September. The department cited China’s escalating durian imports, reaching 120,000 tons in October, with a staggering year-on-year surge of 100,000 tons. Notably, Vietnam witnessed a surge in exports, reaching 452,000 tons valued at $1.94 billion in the first ten months of the previous year, as reported by Vietnamese sources.
