Thai durian exporters have capitalised on the ASEAN-China free trade agreement (FTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) by exporting about US$2.8 billion worth of fresh durian to China from January to April this year, a substantial increase of 85.31% over the same period last year, according to the Thai Foreign Trade Department.

Thai exports under the frameworks of 12 FTAs during the same period amounted to US$25.8 billion, an increase of 74.75% over the same period last year.

Exports of Thai durian to China are exempted from taxation under the ASEAN-China FTA and RCEP, which has helped to cut the costs, said Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of Foreign Trade Department.

The top FTAs for Thai exporters are:

-The ASEAN FTA.  Thai exports under this agreement for the January-April period amounted to US$9.45 billion, including US$2.5 billion to Indonesia, US$2.2 billion to Malaysia, US$2.1 billion to Vietnam and US$1.57 billion to the Philippines. The major products are trucks not exceeding five tonnes, passenger cars, sugar, air-conditioners, petrol and bituminous oil.

-The ASEAN-China FTA. Thai exports under this agreement for the same period amounted to US$7.85 billion, accounting for 92.4% of the entitlements. Major export items include fresh durian, products of a mixture of synthetic and natural rubber, tapioca, tapioca starch, sugar, mangoes, mangosteen, guava and frozen poultry.

-The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). Thai exports under this agreement amounted to US$21 billion, accounting for 69.67% of the entitlements. Major products included chilled chicken meat, frozen chicken meat, polymer ethylene bags, copper wire and cable.

-The Thai-Australian FTA. Thai exports under this agreement amounted to US$1.87 billion, accounting for 67.41% of export entitlements. Major products werediesel or semi-diesel vehicles, passenger cars of 1,000-1,500cc and over 2,500 cc, air-conditioning accessories and flavoured mackerel.

-The ASEAN-India FTA. Thai exports under this agreement amounted to US$1.68 billion.  Major export products were copper wire, air-conditioning accessories, aluminium foil and radio receivers.

–Exports to 10 countries under RCEP amounted to US$421.9 million, representing a growth of 106.7% compared to the same period last year. Major export items included canned mackerel, lubrication oil , energy drinks, tapioca chips, spark plugs, prism lenses andmirrors.