VNExpress-Nov 22
Thai farmers who’ve enjoyed a virtual monopoly in exporting fresh durian to China are worried about Vietnam entering the fray because the latter’s proximity to the importer generates several advantages. When Vietnam’s first batch of fresh durian was exported to China under official quota in September, Thai farmer Busaba Nakpipat said she was concerned about heightened competition in a market that Thailand has dominated for decades. “Thailand used to be the only country allowed to export fresh durians to China, while Vietnam used to export processed durian,” she told the South China Morning Post. “But now Vietnam is our competitor and it worries me.” During a trip to Vietnam in September, Busaba saw an increasing number of durian orchards and found there was large potential in the country to further expand cultivation of the special fruit. Vietnam has been exporting processed durian to China for years, but now that the export of fresh durian to the world’s largest consumer market has been approved, local farmers see a great opportunity to make bigger profits. China has approved exports of fresh durian from nearly 3,000 hectares in Vietnam. It took Vietnam four years to negotiate the approval as China has become a difficult market with high quality standards. Industry insiders in Thailand view this development with some trepidation because its market dominance is threatened now. Thailand was the first country to export fresh durian to China. In 2021, Thai durian exports to China grew at a record 68% year-on-year to more than 875,000 tons. However, Vietnamese farmers have an advantage over their Thai counterparts because they can afford to pick durians for export later than in Thailand. Shipments from Vietnam take less time to reach China, said Thai academic and agriculture specialist Sakda Sinives. Read more at: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/economy/thai-durian-farmers-feel-threatened-as-vietnam-makes-china-debut-4539236.html
