The Ministry of Commerce is moving swiftly to absorb and distribute 300,000 tonnes of Southern durian amid fears of a market glut caused by a slowdown in Chinese imports, after shipments containing immature fruit were detected.
Wittayakorn Maneenetr, director general of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), addressed the Southern durian situation on Tuesday, stating that total output in the South is expected to reach 752,515 tonnes this year, a 30% increase compared to the previous season.
“While roughly 35% of the harvest has already entered the market, approximately 489,199 tonnes remain,” he said.
He also explained that “The early-season price dip was driven by a temporary pause in orders from China, due to quality issues involving premature durian, alongside increased competition from foreign suppliers and domestic output from regions such as Uttaradit, Si Sa Ket and Nakhon Ratchasima.”
To stabilise prices, the DIT intervened through advance market purchasing and consumer campaigns. Southern Monthong durian are currently priced at 85–105 baht per kilogram for Grade AB, 60–80 baht per kg for Grade C, and 40–55 baht per kg for Grade D.
Addressing recent viral reports claiming Monthong durian were selling for as low as 5 baht per kg in Uttaradit, Wittayakorn explained that a local inspection confirmed the 5-baht fruit was actually a small, cracked native variety, not Monthong, typically reserved for processing into durian paste or pastry fillings.
The department's 300,000-tonne absorption plan for Southern fruit includes 3,700 tonnes secured under advance contracts, 9,000 tonnes through consumption campaigns and 281,000 tonnes linked to off-site distribution networks.
Additional measures include establishing direct points of sale, providing postal transport subsidies and supporting processing initiatives.
As a mid-term strategy, the ministry plans to target tourist groups through consumption campaigns, collaborate with food brands to create durian-based menus and take foreign ambassadors on field visits to key producing provinces, including Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Despite early-season hurdles, Thailand's overall durian export performance remains robust.
Between January 1 and July 5 this year, the country exported 908,047.46 tonnes of durian in 55,831 shipments, generating over 104.19 billion baht.
