Durians ripen soon in Bangkok, Thailand, and a recent report claims that demand for the fruit remains healthy in China. According to a critical player in the durian industry, fruitful harvests in May were perceived to generate high demand in China amid the pandemic.
According to Nikkei, Vipavadee Teplasamee sees lucrative harvests in May for durian in Bangkok, Thailand. She claimed that the fruit is referred to as 'green gold' since it has enjoyed consistent high market demand in China despite the pandemic.
The 46-year-old farmer noted that she has high hopes for achieving high profitability of the fruit in China. She claimed that the pandemic did not disrupt the supply chain of the fruit into the country. She also noted that Chinese intermediaries in Thailand continue to purchase directly from Bangkok orchards during the harvest season.
The Chinese middlemen were said to visit farmers of durian plantations in the country during March to book advance purchases before they flew back to China. These trips happened before Thailand shut its airports and restricted international travel. Hence, the farmer claimed that she would experience guaranteed sales of her harvest despite the economic disruption that the pandemic caused in China.
According to Vipavadee, Chinese buyers have established an extensive network and are invested in buying the fruits during harvest season. She claims that she has generated an income sufficient enough to cover her 600,000 baht debts and enabled her to purchase a Mazda pickup truck. The finances were acquired through consistent sales from selling Durian to Chinese merchants. She even noted that amid the pandemic, the industry would still be healthy and generate a good season for durian farmers.
At present, the wholesale price of durians is from 105 to 115 baht per kilogram. The retail price in the Thai market at the start of the harvesting season in March was at 150 baht. In 2019. The wholesale price was only 80 to 90 baht. However, prices for the fruit increased due to severe drought during the growing season and the early harvesting period. Therefore, fewer durians were supplied to the market.
Chinese middlemen started purchasing the fruits this year and that the purchases were similar to the trend in 2019. Thai durian farmers also began harvesting at the time when China eased lockdown measures. The farmers were said to have sold their fruits according to pre-booked purchases this year.
Chinese consumers were said to acquire their purchases in bulk from Chanthaburi. The region was considered as Thailand's largest durian-producing province.
