Durian prices in southern Thailand fall due to obstacles in neighboring markets

Comprehensive Thai media reported on July 13 that the price of durian in southern Thailand is currently falling rapidly.
In early June, the price was about 150-160 baht per kilogram, and now it has dropped to only 100-110 baht per kilogram, while the eastern durian, which went on the market in early April, The price is 170-180 baht per kilogram, and the price is still rising steadily .

 

　　A company operating durian export business in Chumphon Province said that since the listing of durians this year, the price of southern durians has been lower than that of eastern durians.
In early June, the price of southern durians was 150-160 baht per kilogram.
However, due to many problems, neighboring countries’ markets adjusted the price.
The purchase price was reduced, resulting in a continuous decline in the sales price level, until recently it fell to 100-110 baht per kilogram
.

 

　　There are 5 main reasons for this: 1) The durian quality is found to be poor, because the merchant contracted the entire orchard and harvested all at one time, many durians did not mature at the same time; 2) The Youyiguan port checkpoint strengthened the epidemic prevention and control, and the transportation time was from 5-7 Days increased to 10-12 days, resulting in product damage, moldy and other quality problems, and had to be sold as pastry raw materials at a price of 200-300 yuan per kilogram, while the original price was 630-650 yuan, causing more serious losses; 3) Southern The number of durian orchards that have obtained GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) certificates is relatively small, which has caused some businesses not to purchase them; 4) The popularity of durians in neighboring countries has declined in the summer due to the fact that a large number of neighboring countries’ fruits are on the market and the prices are cheap.
Competition for fruits from other countries; 5) Neighboring governments have strengthened inspections on imported fruits.
If the new coronavirus is detected, all products will be destroyed.
This has caused operators to delay the purchase of durian from the orchard and call on the government to distribute vaccines to durian harvesters in time , Before July, because the southern durian and mangosteen will begin to produce a large amount of fruit in August, more than twice the labor force needs to be transferred from the east
.

 

　　A Thai enterprise said that the Mohan port checkpoint notified in early July that the neighboring government announced that if the new crown virus is detected, all products will be destroyed, causing the industry to bear the loss of 3 to 4 million baht per box
.
Therefore, exporters must strengthen epidemic prevention and control measures, including orchards, packaging plants and transportation processes, to disinfect from the source
.
This year, it may be difficult to achieve the goal of the durian export market as a whole to exceed 60 billion baht, because there are now epidemics in many southern provinces, and the number of new infections remains high
.

 

　　An enterprise in Chumphon Province stated that the price of durian fell in July because neighboring countries started to enter the summer season and other neighboring countries' fruits such as lychees and apples were on the market
.
In addition, the southern durian orchards have problems with GAP certification.
Since Chumphon is the durian logistics center in southern Thailand, and most of the southern parts are small orchards, customers in neighboring countries will temporarily stop purchasing without a GAP certificate
.
There are also strict inspections at border ports in neighboring countries, and the transportation time is lengthened.
After the durian shell is broken, the price will be greatly reduced
.

 

　　According to the Thai Durian Association, some of the southern durians produced in early June had quality problems.
Although a small portion, it was difficult to be marketed in the terminal market
.
At present, the screening has been strengthened.
If the problem of low-quality durians is dealt with, coupled with the opening of Dongxing Port, the congestion problem at Mohan Port and Friendship Port for importing goods from Vietnam will be alleviated, and the transportation system will be more convenient.
The export price of durian is expected in August and September.
Will pick up
.

 

　　Regarding the issue of GAP certification, the Ministry of Agriculture said that in Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Ranong, Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces, 17,386 durian growers have applied for GAP certification, of which 16,781 have obtained GAP certification.
In addition, 476 packaging plants have all passed GMP certification (Good Manufacturing Practice)
.

 

　　According to the data from January to May this year provided by the Ministry of Commerce, Thailand’s fresh durian exports amounted to approximately 58 billion baht, an increase of 45.
2% over the same period last year
.
The Kaitai Research Center predicts that Thailand’s fresh durian exports will reach 90 billion baht (approximately US$2.
9 billion) this year
.