Thailand plans to increase the frozen durian exports to cope with competition from fresh durian from Vietnam

Southern Thailand has seen a decrease in durian production due to pod problems and borers, leading to a surge in returns of durian containers and a slump in export prices to China. This, coupled with the cheaper Vietnamese durian available, has resulted in reduced purchases of Thai durian. To counter this, Thai agricultural experts recommend focusing on exporting durian meat, which makes up a small portion of the fruit, to cut costs and increase profitability for farmers. They also suggest exploring the potential of frozen durian, despite Vietnam's current lack of advanced freezing technology. The Chinese market's preference for Vietnamese durian, which offers a year-round supply and lower logistics costs due to its proximity, poses a significant challenge. However, the quality maintenance offered by Thai freezing technologies could provide an edge for Thai frozen durian, especially during off-seasons.

The main reason is the decline in durian production in southern Thailand this year, coupled with the problem of pods and borers. Recently, 9 containers of durian were returned. Mr. Sarilawi, marketing consultant of the Thai Durian Association, revealed that the price of Thai durian exported to the Chinese market is generally at a low level. There are four major problems with durian from the three southern provinces: 1. Affected by the economic situation, it is difficult to distribute inventory in the Chinese destination market; 2. The problem of pods at the beginning of the durian production season in late July this year; 3. The problem of durian seed borers that continues to this day; 4. The upcoming Vietnamese durian competition at the end of August this year. Competition situation. The above problems have caused many exporters to stop purchasing durian from the three southern provinces of Thailand. With low purchasing power and competition from Vietnamese durian, Chinese ...