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  1. #1
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    Thai fruit growers reap profits in China

    a lengthy feature article in the weekend's BP about fruit sales to China, edited down version to follow, link in header for full article

    Thai fruit growers reap profits in China



    SALES BOUNTY: Thai fruit has gained market share in China, thanks in part to its low price, but there are concerns that Thai farmers could benefit more from relaxed export rules.

    Orchard owner Pisit Swadilon is carefully harvesting his mangosteen prior to them being exported to various global destinations, including China which has became a favoured market for Thai exporters thanks mainly to the trade agreements between the two countries.

    ''The price this year is much better than last year,'' Mr Pisit said. He grows mangosteen in Rayong province, an area once known for producing fruit, but less so now thanks to increased industrialisation.

    The average price paid for mangosteen bought by export companies is about 20 baht per kilogramme, but Mr Pisit said his largest sized fruits sold last week for 42 baht a kilogramme, however, these account for only 5% of his crop.



    Oratai Euatrakool, senior agriculturist of the Agriculture Department's Office of Agricultural Regulation - said the first shipment to China by land under the new MoU took place on June 1, and that her officials at the provincial level had inspected nine containers. Each was sealed and numbered, and the officials sent their inspection report to the Chiang Kong border in Chiang Rai.

    Once at the border, the shipping companies reported to plants and pesticide border control officials who checked the containers' seals and documentation before issuing a certificate. After that, the containers were free to cross the Mekong River. sealed the containers with the Department's seal with its number on the seals, then the officials sent the report about the products, the number of seals to Chiang Kong border.

    When the fruits arrived at the Chiang Kong border, the shipping companies have to report to the plants and pesticide border control officials. The officials only inspect the containers from outside. They examine the seal and inspect the document and then issuing the certificate and the truck process to cross the Mekong River.

    Among nine containers were Sunchai's fruits trucks which set off Chinese destination on May 29 from Chanthaburi province and it arrived at Chiang Khong border in Chiang Rai province on May 31 morning after the custom procedures, the truck cross the Mekong River by large ferry to Laos's border in Huay Sai. According to the MoU, the fruit must travel through the Route 3 Asian countries (R3A).

    The R3A route is one of the new highways serving the North-South Economic Corridor. The route links between Thailand with Laos and Xishuangbanna Prefecture in Yunnan province, Southwestern China, covering about 1,200km from Thai border.

    The total distance of the R3A route is 1,887km and it links Thailand with Lao PDR and the People's Republic of China (PRC) via Bangkok - Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong in Thailand, Huay Sai, Bokeo- Luang Namtha -Boten in Laos, and Mohan - Jinghong - Kunming in Yunnan, Southern China. This route has been opened since March, 2008.

    ''In the past the on land trade from Thailand and China would be consider as the border trade,'' said Sunchai. Before the new MoU, Sunchai has to reload his produces via a small truck in Laos travelled through 3,000 curves (or winding road) in Laos before arriving at Chinese border in Mohan. Then again, it needed to reload into Chinese trucks and kept one day at the border cold storage for inspection before delivering his fruit to its destinations in China cities.


    SPECIAL DELIVERY: A Thai fruit truck at the Laos-China border, part of the first shipment under the new MoU.

    The trucks of fruit travel via modern road which was cut through many mountains in Yunnan province. Many tunnels, some are as long as 3.3 kilometres. The super highway road in China is in good condition allowing the trucks to drive at its allowed maximum speed.

    the most popular fruit of the month is mangosteen and durian. Many Chinese were carrying Thai durians in the market. When asked why they like Thai durian. ''It tasted good and it is very special to me,'' said a Chinese consumer. Many in China also love mangosteen as it has the cold element in Chinese medicine. The price of mangosteen in this central market ranges from one wholesale outlet to another. Some cost 170 to 230 RMB per 10kg.

  2. #2
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    and an earlier article, again sales to China. Gives an indication of why so many orchardists here in Chanthaburi are doing so well.

    The Genghis fruit report!
    As a comparison on prices, been to the market this evening, pineapples 20b or 3 for 50, mangosteens 20b/kilo, bananas 10 bunch, rambutan 16b/kilo, longan 20b/kilo. Cheaper from the orchards themselves, often get home from a cycling ride with a 1kg bag on each handlebar.

    (full story at link)

    Thai fruit a hot pick for China's trendy
    8/05/2011

    EXPORT CHARGE: Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut checks the price of Thai mangosteen at a stall in Beijing’s Sanyuanli Market.

    Thanks to the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement that implemented tariff reductions on fruits and vegetables, Thai fruit shipments to China have grown steadily over the past six years, to 6.43 billion baht last year, compared with 3.91 billion baht in 2005. China allows 23 Thai fruits to be imported. Of these, durian, mangosteen, pomelo, rambutan, sweet tamarind, rose apple and mango are fast gaining popularity.

    According to fruit vendor Pan Lei, durian and mangosteen are the two most popular Thai fruits, accounting for nearly 50% of total fruit sales in the market. Durian is sold for 30 yuan (140 baht) a kilogramme, while a kilogramme of mangosteen costs 50 yuan. He said the egg banana (kluay khai) is also favoured by young consumers in the capital city, fetching the same price as durian.

    Thai traders normally export fruit and vegetables by air to Hong Kong, in order to get them to markets in mainland China through Guangzhou, about 120km northwest of Hong Kong. It is only in recent years that they have been able to exploit a new land route _ Regional Highway No9 _ that passes through northeastern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam before reaching the southern Chinese province of Guangxi.

    The newly completed Regional Highway No3, a short cut from Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai to the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan via Laos, is also offering new opportunities for Thai fruit exporters, who have been transporting goods to Yunnan via the Mekong River. Through this 1,104km route, Thai exporters can send their shipments to Yunnan three to four days earlier.


    TREND SETTERS: Shanghai women love to keep up with the latest fashions, the newest of which is ‘exotic’ Thai fruits.

    In the case of mangosteen, young female consumers in Shanghai are attracted to the fruit's taste and nutritional value. ''It is important to note, however, that the proportion of people that rejected durian and mangosteen decreased significantly after the first trial,'' said the study.

    Despite its current modest level of export volume, egg banana has strong growth potential. Consumers in China rate it as being superior in terms of taste, aroma, appearance and size when compared with bananas grown domestically and even those imported from other countries.

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