(Yicai Global) April 24 -- The first-ever fresh durians imported from the Philippines reached China last month, as the Southeast Asian country looks to capitalize on favourable free trade agreements once its membership in the world’s biggest trade pact comes into effect in June.

The first batch of durians from the Philippines arrived by air on April 7 and the first consignment that was transported by sea arrived on April 20, according to China Customs. The authority granted approval for the fruit to be imported in January, and the durian is only coming in season now.

The Philippines is seeking increased trade with China, which is the third-biggest durian market in the world. Its application to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is expected to be ratified on June 2, which means that tariffs on its durian will fall to zero from the current 20 percent.

"Durian is the most imported fruit into China now, followed by cherries," Wang Jianjun, general manager at Shanghai Wonong Import and Export, told Yicai Global. And it is mostly consumed by households with medium-to-high incomes. Wonong expects to handle 2,000 tons of durians this year, he added.

China does not grow its own durians and so relies on imports. Thailand and Vietnam already supply fresh durian to China and Malaysia sells the frozen fruit.

But durians from Philippines will not compete with those from other countries, Wang said. They are cheaper and they ripen at a different time from those grown in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam and so go on sale at different times.

Getting approval to export mangosteens to China is the next goal, Ana Abejuela, agricultural counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Philippines in Beijing, told Yicai Global. Negotiations with China Customs are underway and it is hoped that the delicious fruit will be on the shelves for Chinese customers to enjoy as soon as next year.

High-quality fruit is coming into greater demand in China as spending power improves, US consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan said. Durian, cherries and mangosteen should remain the top fruits in China in terms of consumption growth over next five years.

Editors: Shi Yi, Kim Taylor