According to the director of the Center, doc. Prof. Dr. Att Pisarnvanich in Thailand is probably going to take care of its position because the world’s leading durian exporter over the following five years, but its export market share may decline from 85% to 76% as a result of fierce competition from Vietnam and Malaysia.
He said Thai durian still has strong export potential, especially to China, which is the most important export marketplace for Thai durian, but may face latest challenges resembling quality, increased production, labor shortages and price controls imposed by Chinese wholesale buyers in Thailand .
According to Sanchai Puranachaikhiri, president of the Thai Fresh Fruit Traders and Exporters Association, increased transportation costs pose a brand new challenge.
He disclosed that the speed for one cargo container has recently increased from $2,300 to about $9,000, and the land transport rate for every container has increased from 80,000 baht to 250,000 baht.
Based on prices on the Jiangnan wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Guangzhou, which is the most important such market in China, the worth of Thai durian sold to China between now and 2026 is more likely to increase to about 417 baht/kg for Mon Thong varieties, if China imports over 15% of Thailand’s production. According to the UTCC center, ex-farm prices are expected to extend from 121 baht/kg this 12 months to 149 baht/kg in the following five years.
Due to the low price of durian, many farmers in Thailand’s northeastern provinces have switched from other crops to durian over the past ten years, and the world of land dedicated to durian cultivation has increased sixfold since 2011. About 80% of farmers in Thailand’s eastern region grow durian . they cleared their land of rubber trees and replaced them with durian, leading to a fivefold increase in durian production.
According to the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, durian exports to China from the eastern region alone amounted to 433,809 tonnes within the period from February to June 5 this 12 months, up from 425,000 tonnes in the identical period last 12 months.
Only in Chanthaburi province, 91% of this 12 months’s harvest was harvested, of which 87% was exported.
Source: www.thaipbsworld.com
