China’s durian imports slashed by over 30% as stricter quality requirements hit Southeast Asian suppliers

During the period, China bought 390,900 tons of durians worth US$1.93 billion, a 32.5% drop in value and a 32.9% decline in volume from a year ago, the South China Morning Post reported, citing customs data.

Thailand remained the top exporter but saw its shipments to that market plunge by 24% to $1.67 billion. Exports from Vietnam, the second largest supplier, fell 62% to $254 million.

The sharp decline in imports followed the introduction of stricter safety requirements aimed at curbing pesticide residues and other sanitation-related concerns.

Since January, Chinese customs has required all durian shipments to be accompanied by lab reports verifying the absence of a carcinogenic dye called Basic Yellow 2, or auramine O.

Authorities also began inspecting every shipment for traces of the chemical and any heavy metals.

The regulation was introduced after Chinese officials detected Basic Yellow 2 residues in Thai durians, sparking food safety concerns. The dye had been used to enhance the fruit’s appearance.

The new rules initially caused major delays at the border. Many shipments were either held up or rejected, with some subsequently disposed of and others redirected to local markets and sold at steep discounts.

To help durian exports recover after the new rules caused widespread delays, Thai authorities moved quickly to implement corrective measures.

They expanded testing capacity by registering new laboratories, reviewed existing ones and assigned additional personnel to support the export process, Thai newspaper The Nation reported, quoting Ukrit Wongthongsalee, chairman of the Chanthaburi Chamber of Commerce.

Commenting on the country’s response, Dan Martin, a Hanoi-based international business adviser at consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates, said: "Thailand moved with impressive speed to establish farm-level testing facilities and quickly restored China’s trust."

Thailand’s efforts to resume exports were aided by Chinese customs, which rolled out 24-hour clearance operations at key border checkpoints specifically for Thai durians. These measures helped stabilize the trade flow, and reduced losses for Thai farmers.

Vietnam is also working to address the export bottleneck. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said the government is taking measures to revive the trade, including stricter oversight of production, harvesting, quarantine, and export standards, as quoted by the Vietnam News Agency.

Authorities are also stepping up monitoring of cadmium and pesticide levels while improving traceability throughout the supply chain with the help of digital tracking systems.

The ministry has instructed its Plant Protection Department to strictly punish fertilizer importers and distributors that violate safety regulations.

In May, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and China’s customs agreed to ease delays by extending border checkpoint working hours and assigning more staff at border gates.

That month, China also approved an additional 829 growing areas and 131 packing facilities for durian exports.

Vietnam has also strengthened its testing facilities, with 12 certified labs to check for cadmium and eight to detect traces of auramine O in durians.

China is the world’s largest market for durian, importing nearly $7 billion worth of the fruit last year. The durian scene there has been heating up in recent years as new suppliers join the export race.

In 2024, Thailand and Vietnam saw the arrival of a new rival: Malaysia. Following the signing of an export protocol in June, Malaysia exported RM24.8 million (US$5.5 million) worth of fresh durians to China during the final four months of the year.

Although its overall share is still modest, Malaysian durians are viewed as premium and have gained popularity among Chinese consumers.

The competitive landscape is expected to shift further, as Indonesia announced earlier this year that it plans to begin direct durian shipments to China. It is currently exporting through Thailand, according to Channel News Asia.

Cambodia has also entered the market, with China customs beginning to allow eligible durian shipments from the country starting in late April.