Thailand Tropical insights

According to the Thai National Business Report, the prices of durian and mangosteen in eastern Thailand continue to decline. Durian prices are around 70-80 baht/kg (15.3-17.5 yuan/kg), while mangosteen prices have dropped to a 10-year low, at approximately 12-14 baht/kg (2.6-3.1 yuan/kg). Due to poor quality, Chinese importers have temporarily suspended purchases, causing early-season durian prices in the south to fall below 100 baht/kg. The decrease in mangosteen prices is primarily due to high production this year and most orchard owners selling directly without grading.

According to Thai media reports, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) revealed that since adjusting the customs clearance mode and lowering the inspection rate for alkaline tender yellow at the Friendship Pass, Thailand's durian exports to China through this port have become more convenient, with exports continuing to grow. The International Trade Promotion Department suggests that exporters appropriately divert to other ports to alleviate congestion at the Friendship Pass. The report submitted by the Thai International Trade Promotion Office in Nanning documented the truck clearance situation at the Friendship Pass, particularly for Thai fruits like durian. The report shows that the Friendship Pass is currently the most important land port for China facing ASEAN countries like Vietnam, and China's largest land fruit import and export port. The Thai Ministry of Commerce disclosed that durian exports through the Friendship Pass customs are proceeding smoothly without any issues. After adjusting the clearance mode, the Friendship Pass port maintained orderly truck traffic during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 2. Within three days, over 8,800 trucks crossed the border, with a daily average of 2,934 trucks, representing an 89% year-on-year growth. Despite the large number of clearance trucks, the port remained unobstructed. Regarding Thai fruit exports to China, the report showed a large number of durian-carrying trucks entering through the Friendship Pass. In May, 4,540 containers of Thai durian entered through the port, averaging 150 containers daily, recently increasing to 170 containers per day. After customs inspection of alkaline tender yellow, clearance speed has accelerated. The International Trade Promotion Department stated that the Friendship Pass is the largest land port for Thai durian exports to China. Despite increased truck volume causing some congestion, Thailand can still export more durian through its modern management system and faster, more relaxed inspection policies. For exporters seeking to avoid congestion, the department recommends considering alternative ports such as Mohan Port, Mohan Railway Port, Hekou Port, Tianpu Port, Nansha Port, Dongxing Port, Pingxiang Railway Port, Longbang Port, Qinzhou Port, and Nanning Wuzhou International Airport. These ports have fruit import qualifications and clearance capabilities,

According to Thai media reports, due to extensive deforestation of coffee, rubber, mangosteen, rambutan, and longan plantations for durian cultivation in 2019, Thailand's southern durian production is expected to increase by 14.46% this year, reaching 606,958 tons. Currently, the southern durian planting area has exceeded 870,000 rai, with fruiting area surpassing 622,111 rai. However, prices this year are not as expected, with eastern durian prices already dropping to 105-110 baht per kilogram.