(Yicai) Oct. 27 -- Fresh durians, pineapples and other delicious tropical fruits will go on display at the sixth China International Import Expo next month as fruit producers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations seek to expand their market.

Yong Shen Food from the Philippines will be showcasing fresh durians at the CIIE, which will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10, for the first time this year. China customs only started to allow fresh durians from the Southeast Asian country into China in January and previously, Yong Shen could only exhibit frozen and dried durians.

The Philippines’ Goodfarmer, which is participating for the sixth time in the CIIE, is bringing bananas and other tropical fruits. Thanks to its participation in previous expos, the Panabo-based firm is now a supplier of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding’s grocery arm Hema Fresh.

Goodfarmer’s online business has expanded two-and-a-half times in the past two years and the company now has cold chain, warehousing and delivery teams in 30 Chinese cities to support its e-sales in the country.

Singapore’s Dole Food will also be displaying Philippine durians at its booth as well as pawpaws co-branded with Minions.

China’s imports of fruits from ASEAN member states surged 24.1 percent in the first half from a year ago to CNY40.5 billion (USD5.5 billion), according to China Customs. Of this, imports of fresh durians soared 65 percent and that of pineapples 24.1 percent. Overall, the country’s imports of agricultural products from ASEAN members climbed 7.5 percent over the period to CNY125.1 billion (USD17.1 billion).

China has been drawing closer to ASEAN nations in recent years in terms of economic and trade co-operation thanks to more favorable policies and transportation conditions. The entry of the Philippines into the world’s largest trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in June, a new round of negotiations on the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area and increasingly busy cross-border transport corridors have all helped ASEAN fruits enter China.

Editor: Kim Taylor