Thailand exported more than 1 million tons of fruit worth 92 billion baht (2.54 billion USD) to China in the first half of this year, according to Thai government spokesman Thanakorn , the Bangkok Post reported. He said Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha aimed to increase exports in all sectors and had instituted a policy to support overseas sales of fruit.
 
Thailand's exports rose 12.7 % in January-June from 2021 to more than $149 billion (5.5 trillion baht), surpassing the original target of 4%-5 % growth for the full year, Thanakorn said on Friday, citing information from Thailand's Ministry of Commerce .
 
Last month, Thailand's exports of agricultural and agro-processed products contributed significantly to the growth of its total exports, worth more than $26.5 billion, according to Thanakorn .
 
From Feb 1 to July 21, 64,903 shipments of fresh fruit totalling 1.16 million tons worth more than 92 billion baht were shipped to China, he said, citing information from Thai Ministry of Agriculture. That includes more than 670,000 tons of durian worth 72 billion baht, reflecting Chinese consumers' confidence in the quality and taste of Thai fruit. Besides durian, major fruit exports to China include coconut, mangosteen, longan, rambutan and pomelo. At present, Thailand's fruit exports to China are mainly transported by sea (about 706,000 tons in total), land (about 420,000 tons in total) and air (about 32,000 tons in total).
 
He also revealed that Thai Ministry of Agriculture has launched an electronic phytosanitary certificate, or e-phyto, to help support and promote fruit exports to China.
 
But councillor Wisut is concerned about the situation of longan growers in Thailand. In stark contrast to global rising agricultural prices， longan prices have fallen to their lowest level in 30 years, while soaring fertilizer costs have added to longan growers' woes.
 
Thailand is the world's second-largest longan producer after China, with an annual output of more than 1 million tons, and the world's largest exporter of fresh and processed longans, said Wisut. With 1.7 million rai, or 272,000 hectares, planted in Thailand, longan generates about 30 billion baht in annual revenue for the country.