Laos cleared to export fresh durians to China as Malaysia, Thailand face new rival

Laos has received approval to begin exporting fresh durians to China, becoming the latest Southeast Asian nation to vie for a slice of the vast Chinese market for the tropical fruit.

China’s General Administration of Customs said on its website that Laos was given clearance to begin exports from this past Friday as long as its shipments met phytosanitary standards.

Laos could emerge as a challenger in China’s increasingly crowded durian market, as it benefits from cheap labour, logistical advantages and strong political ties with Beijing, analysts said.

“The most important thing is the logistics, and then the labour,” said Lim Chin Khee, an adviser to the Durian Academy, a Malaysian institution that trains growers.

The flavour of durians from Laos will vary little from those grown in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam – which currently lead the way in the Chinese market – as rainfall patterns in the countries are similar, Lim added.