Growing Demand for Thai Jackfruit as People Turn to Veganism

Published 2022년 9월 8일

As people across the world move towards consuming plant-based protein, the popularity of fruits like jackfruit, which have a meaty texture, is increasing. The fruit, native to Southeast Asia, can now be found across different Western countries since its a key ingredient forfor plant-based meat. . Thailand is the second largest exporter of jackfruit, with a majority of its produce going to China in the past few years. Since there has been an easing of logistical constraints between the two countries, it is likely that Thailand’s jackfruit exports to China will continue to rise in the coming months. In addition, Thailand has also started exporting jackfruit to multiple Western countries as the local farmers started to spot the global trend of veganism.

A transition towards consuming "vegan meat" has increased the demand for jackfruit, which is now available across the world. The fruit is sold pre-cut, seasoned, conveniently packaged, and sold as plant-based alternatives in stores across Western countries. Jackfruits are drought resistant and require very little maintenance. They can be seen growing across different tropical and subtropical countries, with Thailand being among the largest producers of the fruit. The country also exports large volumes of the fruit, making it the second largest jackfruit exporting country in the world. In 2021, Thailand exported USD 378.31 million worth of jackfruits to the world, out of which 87% was exported to China.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand,with the opening up of the Dongxing port, all fruit exports between China and Thailand will increase. Jackfruit, in particular, will record a significant increase in exports as the fruit had a bumper harvest in the northern and southern regions. The port will offer a streamlined checkpoint for Thai fruits, covering trucks, ships, planes, and trains for the northern and southern Thailand fruit season. However, all jackfruit producers and processors must ensure that all epidemic prevention measures are imposed strictly. With sufficient supply in Thailand and an improvement in shipping logistics, it is likely that exports going to China will increase this year. In addition, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in demand even from western countries, which have recently developed a taste for the Asian fruit.

Looking at the export trends of 2021 and 2022, Thailand has already started exporting jackfruits to countries like Australia, the United States, and countries in the European Union. Both jackfruit farmers and processors are capitalizing on the global trend of veganism and how jackfruit is a suitable alternative for meat. In many countries, jackfruit is often chosen as an alternative to shredded meat due to its texture and rich fiber content, besides being packed with almost every vitamin, protein, and mineral. The fruit and its products are in great demand in these markets where the consumer preference is shifting from animal-based protein to plant-based protein. In this light, the outlook for the Thai jackfruit industry remains strong for the upcoming years, provided the country manages to keep up its production and processing capacity at the same rate as the global demand.