The shipment was sent last Friday from Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to southern China’s Shenzhen city and is expected to arrive within nine days, according to Khim Finan, Undersecretary of State and Spokesman for Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
“The first batch of more than 17 tons of fresh Cambodian durians has been officially exported to the Chinese market directly after passing inspection and quality certification from the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with export protocols,” Finan said in a text message to the media, as quoted by Xinhua News Agency.
“This is another success for Cambodia’s exports of fresh fruits to this potential market, and is also the result of good cooperation between the governments and the private sectors of the two countries.”
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Cambodian durians undergoing inspection for export to China. Photo courtesy of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
MAFF said the inaugural batch was carried out by HF Fruit Company Limited in collaboration with a Chinese partner. HF Fruit was launched on May 1 in Tboung Khmum province, according to Khmer Times.
HF Fruit plans to continue shipping durians to China and will source the fruit from local growers, offering prices based on size, quality and current market rates, the ministry said.
This first shipment came after China’s General Administration of Customs approved 112 durian farms and 30 packing facilities in Cambodia in early July.
Durian is Cambodia’s fifth fresh fruit to gain direct entry to China, following yellow bananas, mangoes, longans and coconuts.
China is one of the top buyers of Cambodian agricultural products and the world’s largest durian consumer.
In 2024, it imported US$6.99 billion worth of durians, with Thailand accounting for $4 billion, or 57% of the market, and Vietnam supplying $2.9 billion for a 41.5% share.
The Philippines and Malaysia trailed with $32.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively. Malaysia had only entered China’s fresh durian market last year.
Cambodia has more than 11,000 hectares under durian, of which 7,000 are currently in harvest, producing an estimated 120,000 tons of durians each year, according to MAFF.
Tboung Khmum province alone has 685 hectares in harvest with an annual yield of around 10,000 tons.
