(Yicai) Oct. 19 -- China was the world’s largest importer of durians last year, accounting for 82 percent of the total, according to World Trade Organization data.

Most durians imported into China came from Thailand, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the figures showed. The fruits imported from Malaysia were mainly frozen and processed, while durians from Thailand continued to dominate the fresh market.

China imported 825,000 tons of durian in 2022, with nearly 95 percent from Thailand, according to statistics from the General Administration of Customs. Imports reached 787,000 tons in the first half of this year, including over 600,000 tons from Thailand and 186,000 tons from Vietnam, bringing the market share of Thai durian down to 76 percent.

Durian is a tropical fruit known for its distinctive and strong smell, which is often described as unpleasant. Despite that, the large, fleshy fruit is known as the “King of Fruits” in Southeast Asia, where it is popular and widely eaten.

In August last year, China’s GAC began allowing imports of qualified fresh durian produce from Vietnam. Fresh fruit from the Philippines was also allowed to enter the Chinese market after a protocol was signed on Jan. 4.

Alibaba Group's grocery arm Freshippo, also known as Hema Fresh, brought in Monthong durian from Vietnam on a large scale for the first time this year and began to sell it nationwide at the end of June. Vietnamese durian is also in great demand on online marketplaces such as JD.Com and Pinduoduo.

Vietnam's durian exports jumped nearly 19-fold to USD876 million in the first half from a year earlier, Vietnam's customs data showed. Exports to China reached USD835 million.

Vietnamese durian is cheaper, takes a shorter time to transport thanks to geography, and costs less to transport and store than Thai durian.

The Philippines exported 917 tons of fresh durian to China worth USD3.5 million in the first eight months of this year. Limits on capacity curbed exports, and the Philippines must overcome its low durian productivity to meet overseas demand, Ceferino Rodolfo, the country’s trade and industry undersecretary, said last month.

Editor: Martin Kadiev