Thailand’s Durian Gold Rush Meets New Rivals in China’s High-stakes Market

In 2026, the conversation shifted from chasing growth to managing volume and price swings during peak harvest. In the first half of 2026, China’s durian imports rose 47% year on year to 1.07 million tonnes, up from 708,000 tonnes in the first half of 2025, according to official customs figures cited by SCMP and also reported by Bangkok Post and Malay Mail. Analysts quoted by SCMP said production in Southeast Asia has been rising faster than demand during peak season, creating downward pressure on prices. Lim Chin Khee, adviser to Malaysia’s Durian Academy, linked easing wholesale prices in China to increased supply from several origins, higher stock levels, and more cautious consumer spending.

Thailand’s Lead Holds, but the Map of Competitors Is Expanding

Despite intensifying rivalry, Thailand still dominated China’s import market in early 2026 on a value basis. Chinese customs data cited across SCMP, Bangkok Post, and Malay Mail shows Thailand exported nearly US$3.79 billion worth of durians to China in the first six months of 2026, representing 81% of the market. Vietnam ranked second with US$846 million, or 18%. The same reporting noted Thai shipments were US$2.56 billion in the first half of 2025, also nearly 81% of the total. Analysts quoted by SCMP attributed Thailand’s edge to established logistics and quality-control systems that support strong consumer preference in China—an advantage that matters as competition turns from entry to execution.

Vietnam and Malaysia are widening the field, each in different ways. Vietnam was approved to export fresh durians to China in 2022 and has expanded quickly, although industry analysts cited by SCMP and Bangkok Post said it has faced occasional quality issues. Malaysia’s momentum is also visible in the customs figures: in the first half of 2026, Malaysia shipped US$30.26 million to China, up 342% from the same period last year, according to data cited by Malay Mail and SCMP. SCMP reported Malaysia’s rise is linked to trees planted six to 10 years ago reaching maturity. In parallel, the compliance bar is rising: China’s General Administration of Customs tightened checks after detecting excessive levels of the chemical dye Basic Yellow 2, with Thailand and Vietnam required to provide test reports and random samples inspected at all border crossings from January 10.

The pressure on the Thailand durian export to China story is not only about competitors abroad. Seoul Economic Daily, citing Nikkei, reported that beyond Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia are expanding durian cultivation, while China’s own commercial cultivation in Yunnan and Hainan remains limited in scale but is rising steadily. The same report said tighter Chinese quarantine rules have stepped up testing for auramine O and cadmium, and Thailand has responded by increasing the number of laboratories certified to test for residues. Thailand is also seeking to diversify exports to India, the European Union, and the United States to reduce dependence on China. But with China still the key demand center, Thailand’s next phase hinges on holding quality, avoiding gluts, and protecting price strength as the supply base broadens.