Farmers in Haian City, eastern China, have harvested their inaugural durians, aiming for the local market, potentially affecting Thailand, the top durian exporter to China. The Office of Trade Promotion in Xiamen, Thailand, acknowledged China's success in cultivating Hainan durian, as reported by The Nation. "When China is able to produce Hainan durians, it would mark another achievement for the Chinese durian industry. It would not significantly impact the import of Thai durians due to limited production," stated the office. However, the emergence of Hainan durians introduces competition for Thailand.
China has developed durian cultivation in Hainan, Sanya, and Yucai. The initial harvest from Hainan, with 500 trees currently fruit-bearing, is expected to hit the market this month. This year marks the first harvest season following four years of cultivation. Projections suggest durian cultivation in Hainan could expand over 6,600ha in the next three to five years.
The Thai trade office advises Thai exporters to focus on quality and freshness to compete effectively. China, as the largest durian consumer globally, imported 1.4 million tonnes in 2023, primarily from Thailand and Vietnam, showing a nearly 70% increase from the previous year. Thailand remains the leading exporter, with a 65.6% market share. Thailand aims to export around one million tonnes of durian this year, targeting a revenue of 130 billion baht ($3.5 billion), with specific dry weight standards set for different durian varieties.
Source: e.vnexpress.net