As the pace of China's banana import industry accelerates, the harvested area and output of bananas in Southeast Asia, especially Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam will increase rapidly. Although Thailand does not border China, its banana exports to China have increased significantly in recent years.
According to Liu Hua, head of Agro Republic International Co., Ltd., the main kinds bananas in Thailand are divided into three major varieties, namely the conventional banana, the emperor banana and the pink banana. In general, Thailand's banana production and market are continuing to expand. From 2015 to 2016, Thailand's banana production and market prices have generally increased by 5-10%, and the export market has continued to expand, especially in the Japanese market. .
Chinese demand brings "banana economy"
Since 2016, more and more Chinese investors have cooperated with banana plantations in northern Thailand to import bananas into China. At the same time, more and more Thai people have become agents of Chinese enterprises and local fruit farmers, and plant bananas in large quantities in the form of contracting or land acquisition. The entry of Chinese capital has brought employment opportunities to local farmers and fruit farmers, and the huge Chinese market has also brought them huge profits.
Emperor Banana: 60% are exported to China
As the export volume of the Thai Emperor bananas is increasing year by year, the planting area is also growing accordingly. Exports to the mainland China market accounted for 60%, the main consumer markets include Sichuan Province, Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province. In addition, potential export markets include Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong.
For the huge Chinese banana import market, Thailand was not the first choice. Before 2011, 80% of China's imported bananas came from the Philippines. Sino-Philippine relations became tense in 2012, and China’s banana imports to the Philippines did not resume until 2016. This has changed the import pattern of Chinese bananas. The Central South Peninsula countries, such as Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, which are closer to China, have become the “new darling” of the Chinese banana market.
Source: Agricultural Finance Network Banana