BANGKOK (NNT) - The southwestern Chinese megacity of Chongqing on Sunday (11 June) welcomed the first direct cold-chain train of Thai durians transported via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

 

150,000 durians from Thailand were first transported by road to Laos, where they were then loaded on a train that traveled into China via the China-Laos Railway.

 

According to Deng Haoji, Chief Operating Officer of Hongjiu Fruit, the company that purchased the durians, the entire journey took four days - down from 8-10 days on previous maritime routes.

 

Deng said, "For fruit importers, time is money and every hour is precious. This durian train has reduced costs, as well as losses during the transportation."

 

The majority of the durians will enter markets in Chongqing, while the rest will continue the train journey to reach the neighboring province of Sichuan.

 

Durians are among a growing number of agricultural products from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that have expanded entry into the Chinese market. This has been made possible due to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and improvements in cross-border transport infrastructure.

 

In 2022, China imported 825,000 tonnes of durian, 780,000 tonnes of which came from Thailand, according to customs data.

 

By Paul Rujopakarn

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230612134203099

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-06-12

 

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13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

150,000 durians from Thailand were first transported by road to Laos, where they were then loaded on a train that traveled into China via the China-Laos Railway

Just wait until the railway connects from Thailand to Laos... 

What goes one way comes back the other, loaded with Chinese goods.

Edited June 13, 20233 yr by hotchilli

Just now, hotchilli said:

Just wait until the railway connects from Thailand to Laos... 

What goes one one comes back the other, loaded with Chinese goods.

Or perhaps tourists.

I am concerned, durians will become scarcer and more expensive in Thailand and I do enjoy them. 

Just now, hotchilli said:

Just wait until the railway connects from Thailand to Laos... 

What goes one one comes back the other, loaded with Chinese goods.

Or perhaps tourists.

I am concerned, durians will become scarcer and more expensive in Thailand and I do enjoy them. 

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Or perhaps tourists.

I am concerned, durians will become scarcer and more expensive in Thailand and I do enjoy them. 

As well as everything else once the high speed train gets in and China siphons off most of Thailand's agriculture.  It runs right through Thailand's Bread Basket.

Edited June 13, 20233 yr by DrPhibes

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Just wait until the railway connects from Thailand to Laos... 

What goes one way comes back the other, loaded with Chinese goods.

Yes indeed, but not until 2029/30 the earliest.

10 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Or perhaps tourists.

I am concerned, durians will become scarcer and more expensive in Thailand and I do enjoy them. 

Durians, chicken, eggs. All getting more expensive as exporters leave the Thai market high and dry.

7 hours ago, DrPhibes said:

As well as everything else once the high speed train gets in and China siphons off most of Thailand's agriculture.  It runs right through Thailand's Bread Basket.

Soon see the image of starving Thai peasants watching on as Chinese trains swoosh by carrying Thai foodstuffs out of the country.