BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Known as the "king of fruits" in Southeast Asia, the durian has gained increasing popularity among Chinese consumers due to its rich texture and unique flavor.
The high price of durians has dissuaded many from indulging in its delights in the past years. However, the price decline of the Southeast Asian country's iconic thorny fruit is now poised to bring joy to a larger community of durian lovers.
A staff member of a fruit trading company presents an opened durian imported from Vietnam in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on May 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
A woman chooses durians imported from Thailand at a supermarket in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
A visitor (L, front) chooses durian imported from Vietnam during the 20th China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
Traders from Vietnam sell durians during the 20th China-ASEAN Expo at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)
Durian-flavored desserts are pictured at a snack shop in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
A staff member picks durians for mail order at a market in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
The changes can be attributed to the bountiful harvests of durians in Southeast Asian countries, as well as tariff-free policies and expanded market access under the frameworks of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
According to the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, China was the largest export market for Thai durians in 2022, accounting for over 96 percent of the total export volume, with a total value of 3.09 billion U.S. dollars.
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 18, 2023 shows a durian orchard in Chumphon, Thailand. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
A worker cuts durians off from a tree at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
A worker waits to catch durians cut off from a tree at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
A worker catches a durian cut off from a tree at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Workers load freshly harvested durians at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Staff members check freshly harvested durians at a durian plant in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Packed durians are loaded into a truck at a durian plant in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
A staff member loads packed durians into a truck at a durian plant in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
In 2022, Vietnamese durians, known for their longer harvest season and lower prices, gained market access to China under the RCEP framework.
Thanks to the entry of durians into the Chinese market, Vietnam earned more than 500 million U.S. dollars from durian exports in the first five months of the year, up 18 times from a year ago, official data from Vietnam showed. Vietnam exported more than 65,000 tonnes of durians during the period, with China buying 97 percent of the shipment.
A farmer harvests durians at a durian orchard in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Photo by Pham Dinh Duc/Xinhua)
A farmer conducts preliminary cleaning for freshly harvested durians at a durian orchard in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Photo by Pham Dinh Duc/Xinhua)
Staff members unload and sort out durians at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Photo by Pham Dinh Duc/Xinhua)
Staff members clean fresh durians at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Photo by Pham Dinh Duc/Xinhua)
Staff members pack durians to be exported to China at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)
Packed fresh durians wait to be delivered at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)
In the first five months of this year, Guangxi imported 3.66 billion yuan worth of fruits from ASEAN countries, a marked rise of 194 percent year on year. Among the most notable increases is durian, which surged 516 percent from the same period last year, according to customs data.
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 9, 2023 shows a view of the port of the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
This aerial photo taken on July 22, 2023 shows an automated container wharf of the Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
Custom staff members check imported durians at the port of the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 12, 2023.(Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
A staff member moves durians waiting for custom clearance at the port of the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
A staff member (L) processes custom clearance documents at the port of the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
This photo taken on Sept. 12, 2023 shows part of durians waiting for custom clearance at the port of the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
The "king of fruits" has emerged as a prominent symbol of the booming China-ASEAN cooperation and China's vast market potential. Let's look forward together as the cooperation between China and ASEAN countries continues to deepen, and more high-quality fruits from ASEAN countries will be available to Chinese consumers at more affordable prices.■
