A Massive Surge in Fruit Imports
China’s durian imports rose 47 percent year on year in the first half of 2026. Consequently, this surge is driven by Southeast Asian exporters offloading a massive fruit glut. Thailand remains the market leader, exporting nearly $3.79 billion worth of durians to China. Therefore, Thai shipments maintained a commanding 81 percent share of the entire market. Meanwhile, Vietnam came in second place with $846 million in inbound shipments. Ultimately, the total import volume reached 1.07 million tonnes from all global countries.
Market Competition and Price Pressures
Thai durians maintain a significant edge due to mature logistics and excellent quality control. In contrast, Vietnam has faced occasional quality-control issues despite ramping up its exports. Meanwhile, Malaysia is a relative newcomer but experienced explosive growth in this market. Specifically, Malaysian shipments surged by 342 percent to reach $30.26 million this year. However, this rapid production growth across multiple origins has completely outpaced consumer demand. As a result, wholesale prices in China have dropped by 14 to 20 percent.
Logistics Expansion and Diplomatic Efforts
The expansion of the China-Laos Railway and e-commerce platforms heavily boosted these trade volumes. To manage the current oversupply, agricultural officials are actively seeking new logistical solutions. For instance, Malaysia asked China to open a faster land-based shipping route. Furthermore, the Malaysian Prime Minister promised to discuss falling prices during a Beijing visit. The Vietnamese government is also working closely with China to improve overall fruit quality. Ultimately, Chinese customs officials noted that these expanded channels offer consumers more affordable choices.
Reference
Jennings, R., & Jennings, R. (2026, 23 julio). China’s durian imports from Thailand and Malaysia soar as glut pressures growers. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3361299/chinas-durian-imports-thailand-and-malaysia-soar-glut-pressures-growers?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article