The 'fragrance of durian' took over when the season began in April. Imported durians are very popular in the Chinese market. A spokesperson for Guangdong Excellent Fruit Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd., recently talked about the current market conditions for import durian.
"The peak period of the Thai durian sales season falls between April and July. The durian enter the country via several ports, and their combined import volume is around 300 shipping containers per day. Chinese market demand for import durian is huge. The sales volume and retail price are quite good at the moment. Durian sell for about 700800 yuan [103-118 USD] per box. Most of the supply currently comes from east Thailand. And the most popular variety is the Mon Thong durian. The product quality is stable. Thailand has strict regulations in place for trade in fresh durian. The durian is only harvested when completely ripe. This regulation is important for the guarantee of product quality," said Mr. Huang of Guangdong Excellent Fruit Agricultural Investment.
"Durians are generally transported from Thailand to China via sea freight. Under normal conditions the journey takes about 7 days, but there is often 2-3 days delay. Moreover, strict inspection protocols at customs further delay the journey of import durian. And durian that already give off a fragrance are not allowed past customs. Still, there are very few durian that start giving off a fragrance during transport. Fresh-keeping methods are quite good and there are no problems with product quality. Of course, durians do not endure storage well. If delays take too long, then that will impact product quality," explained Mr. Huang.
In the end, the pandemic creates delays for import durians. Strict protocols at customs further exacerbate the situation. And that is the biggest situation for durian importers. There is no particular solution for this situation. All importers can do is urge the durian growers to strengthen their inspection protocols.
Guangdong Excellent Fruit Agricultural Investment is a comprehensive supply chain group specialized in research, plantation, packing, processing, distribution, global trade, and investment in domestic and foreign agriculture. The group has many different brands under its wings and also cooperates with other brands. The group works together with plantation owners in China and abroad, and owns their own plantations too. Their retail channels include wholesale markets and e-commerce platforms. Their assortment includes Southeast Asian fruits, Western fruits (such as cherries, grapes, and oranges), and premium domestic fruits.
For more information:
Chen Cheng - Sales Manager South China
Guangdong Excellent Fruit Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 198 0200 1286
E-mail: 429154366@qq.com