Asean countries in stiff competition for bigger slice of China’s fruit market

By The Nation

 

 

Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines are competing fiercely for a larger share of China's fruit market.

 

China imported fruits worth US$7.62 billion, up 36 per cent from the previous year, according to statistics from the Customs Department of China in 2018. 

 

The total imported quantity exceeded 5.52 million tonnes and was a 25 per cent increase over the previous year. China imported 1.34 million tonnes of fruit from Vietnam, 1.17 million tonnes from the Philippines and 1.02 million tonnes from Thailand. The five fruit China imported the most were: cherry, durian, banana, grape and orange.

 

The director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations at the Commerce Ministry, Auramon Supthaweethum, said there were many factors that led to intense competition among Asean countries to export fruit to China such as the Asean-China Free Trade Area (FTA), and Chinese tourists’ love of Thai fruits. Also, the ongoing trade war between the United States and China has led to China imposing a 30 per cent tariff on fruit from the United States, resulting in China importing more fruit from Asean.

 

Currently China allows Malaysia to export 10 kinds of fruit, including longan, mangosteen, lychee, coconut, watermelon, durian and pear, which will be effective from October 12. Malaysia is also negotiating with China for export of jackfruit. China has allowed Vietnam to export nine kinds of fruit such dragon fruit, watermelon, lychee, longan, mango, banana, rambutan, pineapple and mangosteen, effective from August 27.

 

The data of the Commerce Ministry as well as that of the Customs Department showed that Thailand exported chilled, frozen and dried fruit worldwide worth Bt 85.1 billion, a 11-per-cent year-on-year growth, and China is Thailand’s largest export market. The top five fruit exports by Thailand were durian, mangosteen, longan, banana and pineapple.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30376386

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-19

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Found some mangosteens in an Asian market on the west coast of the US not long ago, US$8 for one pound (450g).

 

A few years back I found US cherries in a supermarket in Malaysia, I think I bought a quarter pound (~100g) for $US5 just for the novelty.  Bland as hell, probably picked months before.

 

 

This is why there are only tiny mangosteens left on the thai markets, all the big ones go overseas. Same for durian.

 

 

While all the other countries are improving their growing, storing, packaging and shipping systems you can bet Thailand will be marking time, so don't expect them to move from the bottom of the table !

I really wish Thailand success and hope it trickles down to the farmers but somehow I think they will screw it up especially with such a high baht. 

Haha, Thailand NOT no. 1!

In the near future, starving Thais will only be able to watch as freight cars full of Thai rice, pork, and fruits lumber north to China. 

7 hours ago, fruitman said:

This is why there are only tiny mangosteens left on the thai markets, all the big ones go overseas. Same for durian.

Common story around here. Auto parts, electronics, other materials and fruits - the best quality ones are exported and not sold here. Instead they import back the crappiest quality Chinese goods that they can't sell to anywhere else. It's insane.

2 hours ago, zydeco said:

In the near future, starving Thais will only be able to watch as freight cars full of Thai rice, pork, and fruits lumber north to China. 

That's the basic idea of colonialism, so yes.

3 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Common story around here. Auto parts, electronics, other materials and fruits - the best quality ones are exported and not sold here. Instead they import back the crappiest quality Chinese goods that they can't sell to anywhere else. It's insane.

Quite a contrast from Japan, where they tended to keep the best stuff at home; I think Korea's similar.

In Europe, we know the French keep the best wine for themselves, bread, meat, oil, etc... great in mediterranean countries. If only they were governed properly.