Southeast Asia is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, which is having a serious impact on the durian cultivation industry, one of Thailand's major export products.
The intense heat and drought have led to a decrease in the quality of durians and a significant increase in cultivation costs, posing a severe challenge to durian farmers in Thailand.
The central region of Thailand, a major durian-producing area, is facing the test of high temperatures and drought, with local temperatures reaching as high as around 40 degrees Celsius, leading to an earlier harvest time for durians this year compared to previous years.
Typically, the durian harvest season is between March and June, but this year, the accelerated ripening of durians has resulted in products that do not reach their optimal taste and size.
In addition to the decrease in quality, the drought has also resulted in insufficient rainfall, bringing double trouble to farmers. One farmer operating a durian farm with an area of 1.6 hectares needs to purchase water for 10 trucks to irrigate the farm. Such watering costs thousands of dollars each time and needs to be repeated every two days.
Durian, known as the "king of fruits," is one of Thailand's core export agricultural products, on par with rice.
According to statistics, in 2021, Thailand's durian exports reached $5.2 billion, hitting a historical high. Thailand has long been the world's largest exporter of durians, with about 95% of durians exported to the Chinese market, where durian consumption continues to grow.
However, Thailand's position in the durian export market is being challenged by Vietnamese durians. According to data, last year, the quantity of Vietnamese durians imported into China surpassed Thailand for the first time.
Vietnamese durians' market share in China continues to increase, mainly due to their relatively lower prices, more convenient transportation, and suitable climate conditions for cultivation.
Although the demand in the Chinese market is still growing, Thai durian farmers are facing a double blow from natural disasters, putting them under greater pressure in the competitive market.
However, the Thai government and relevant departments are working hard to find solutions to help farmers through this difficult period and protect Thailand's competitive position in the international durian market.
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