Thailand's durian production and quality both decline in the off-season, and Vietnam occupies half of the Chinese market

Southern Thailand's off-season durian production for 2024/25 is projected to fall significantly short of expectations, with Phattalung Province's production at less than 30% of the target. The decline in production is primarily due to abnormal weather conditions, including an irregular rainy season, leading to drought, hot weather, and insufficient rainfall, which have caused durian trees to drop flowers and yield poor quality and quantity of fruit. As a result, fruit shape and quality have been affected, and market prices have dropped. However, there is optimism for the future as investments in durian cultivation are on the rise in southern Thailand, particularly in the border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, where rubber trees are being cleared to make way for durian plantations. This shift is expected to boost production in the coming years. Meanwhile, Vietnamese durian has emerged as a significant contender in the Chinese market, outperforming Thai durian due to its consistent supply and competitive pricing, contributing to half of China's imported durian market in the first 10 months of the year.