Could Thai durian export duty mean higher prices, higher quality in China?
Por Ralph Jennings — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement China trade Economy Global Economy Could Thai durian export duty mean higher prices, higher quality in China?
Proposed levy part of a draft bill aimed at establishing a fund for research and ‘sustainable’ development of the sector
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Ralph Jennings Published: 11:00am, 11 Oct 2026
A Thai government proposal to charge export duties on durians, a major cash crop, could raise prices for the fruit in China – its primary market – along with the quality, analysts said.
Thailand’s draft bill to establish a fund for research and “sustainable” development of the durian sector would include the collection of fees, the government’s public relations department said last month.
Southeast Asian media outlets and agricultural publications have tipped the export duty to be as high as 2 baht (5 US cents) per kilogram.
That extra cost could be passed on to Chinese supermarkets, analysts said. China consumed more than 90 per cent of the world’s durians , HSBC analysts said in a report published in 2023. Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
