The Trade Negotiations Department says shipments of fruits and vegetables to China rose by 31% year-on-year to US$1.2 billion in the January-May period, boosted by the Asean-China Free Trade Area.
Of the total value, fruit exports accounted for $838.61 million, up 123%, while durian represented the largest export volume, representing 48.5%, followed by longan, mangosteen and young coconut.
The remaining value was for vegetable exports. Shipments during the first five months stood at $361.08 million, down 33%. Cassava was the main vegetable, representing 96%, followed by beans and dried vegetables.
Auramon Supthaweethum, the department's director-general, said the country's trade value of fruits and vegetables has benefited from the regional trade agreement since 2003: "This agreement is such an important tool for Thailand in order to create advantages for farmers and exporters.”
In 2018, the export value of fruits and vegetables shipped to China was $1.93 billion, up 1,312%.
For Thai fruits, the shipment to China totalled $1.02 billion in 2018, up 2,841%. China was ranked the third biggest export market after Hong Kong and Chile. Vegetable exports in 2018 totalled $909.6 million, up 784%.
Source: bangkokpost.com
