XINHUA – A durian festival celebration was held last week in Chumphon province, a key durian-producing area in southern Thailand, to promote Thailand durian and help more fruit enter the Chinese market.
Chinese Consul General in Songkhla Wu Dongmei along with representatives from Chinese logistics companies and fruit dealers, including SF Express, attended the event, reported Xinhua.
Governor Wisah Poolsirirat ceremonially cut a durian to mark the beginning of the 2024 Chumphon durian harvest season.
Chumphon, the largest durian-growing area in southern Thailand, accounts for over half of the region’s durian production, with the fruit season extending from June to December.
Over the past five years, the durian planting area in Chumphon province has continued to expand, increasing by 17.38 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023, according to the agricultural extension office of the province.
It is anticipated that Chumphon province will produce over 250,000 tonnes of durian in 2024, generating more than TBH33 billion (approximately USD899.4 million).
The expansion of durian planting area is mainly based on the increasing demand for Thai durian from major trading partner countries. China is Thailand’s largest durian trade partner, and 70 per cent of Chumphon province’s durians are exported to China, said Wisah.
“In the future, we will further improve the quality of durians and make Thai durian continue to be a popular fruit among Chinese consumers,” Wisah said.
Mao Yiwen, head of the Key Account Operation and Maintenance Group at SF Express’s Asia Region Business Centre, stated that SF Express’s cross-border e-commerce direct mail service ensures that durians reach Chinese consumers’ tables within two to three days.
The comprehensive logistics process enhances the tracking of durians, thereby improving their quality, Mao said.
Wu highlighted that southern Thailand, particularly Chumphon province, is abundant in agricultural resources. Durians from this region are highly popular in the Chinese market due to their excellent taste and quality.
She emphasised that China and Thailand have the potential to further deepen economic and trade cooperation, enhance trade exchanges, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations.
