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China breaks durian import record as Vietnam, Malaysia nip at Thailand’s heels


With China’s durian imports breaking records in 2024 – reaching nearly US$7 billion in value – competition for its market, the world’s largest, has intensified as Vietnam and Malaysia ramp up their efforts to dethrone Thailand as chief provider of the beloved tropical fruit.

According to customs data, China imported a record 15.6 billion kilograms of durian in 2024, up 9.4 per cent year on year. Import value rose 4.1 per cent to an all-time high of US$6.99 billion – though this was slow compared to the explosive 66 per cent growth rate observed in 2023 after Vietnam entered the market in earnest.

In December, China brought in almost US$160 million worth of the fruit for its domestic supply – still sourced almost entirely from abroad – for a 12 per cent year-on-year increase.

Imports of the fruit from Thailand saw a 7.6 per cent increase year-on-year in December, despite a 12 per cent decline last year overall for a total value of US$4 billion.

Thailand has long dominated China’s durian market, accounting for 68 per cent of imports in 2023. However, its market share in China dropped to 57 per cent last year, a fall attributed to quality issues from the overuse of industrial plantations and a decline in production following a bout of extreme heat.

China’s General Administration of Customs mandated Thailand and Vietnam provide test reports for their durian crops after detecting excessive levels of the chemical dye Basic Yellow 2 – a known carcinogen – according to a report by Thai media outlet Bangkok Insight earlier this month. Since January 10, Chinese authorities have inspected random samples of the fruits at all border crossings.


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