Rising awareness about health and food safety, as well as growing demand for durians, are the main drivers behind the increase in fruit imports to mainland China.

Southeast Asian durian and coconut growers are expected to face a busy period ahead as they work to meet surging demand from mainland Chinese buyers, who prefer high-quality fresh fruit, despite a generally sluggish consumer market. The rapid growth of fruit imports highlights this trend.

Guo Min, Deputy Marketing Director of Joy Wing Mau China, said that exports of fresh Malaysian durians have surged since last year, and market demand remains strong as the August peak season approaches.

“Growth momentum remains robust, and we expect a surge in fruit imports demand next month,” he said in an interview, adding that Malaysian durians are the most sought-after imported fruit among consumers. “We have already made logistical and warehousing arrangements to better serve the market.”

According to data from Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Malaysia began exporting fresh durians to China last year, with exports totaling 24.8 million ringgit (about US$5.9 million) from August to December. Guo added that Malaysia's market share in China's durian market increased tenfold in the first four months of this year, further boosting fruit imports figures.

Chinese customs data show that by 2024, Thailand will hold 57% of China's US$6.99 billion durian market, underlining its dominant role in fruit imports.

Guo made the remarks on July 25 during a break at a “matchmaking” event between international suppliers and Chinese traders held in Shanghai. The event, organized by the China International Import Expo Bureau (CIIE), was aimed at preparing for the bureau's annual expo later this year.

Alan Zeng, Deputy Brand Director of Goodfarmer Fresh Fruit Trading Company, said that Chinese consumers' growing awareness of health and food safety continues to be the primary driver of fruit imports growth. Goodfarmer is responsible for exporting fruits from the Philippines and Vietnam to China.

“They emphasize the importance of freshness and believe that big brands can guarantee product quality and safety,” he said during a CIIE-organized activity. “Despite cautious consumer spending locally, exports of fruits such as durians and pineapples have performed strongly, driving further fruit imports.”

During the CIIE, many traders also indicated that they will introduce higher-quality coconuts and cherries to the Chinese market at the world's largest import trade fair, which will take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, further supporting the upward trend in fruit imports.

For the past two years, China's economy has faced deflationary pressure due to weak domestic demand and excess capacity. Government reports show that June's inflation rate rose by 0.1% year-on-year, ending five consecutive months of sluggish price growth.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE), an annual event launched in 2018, is viewed by many foreign companies as a prime marketing opportunity. Beijing encourages domestic enterprises to purchase foreign-made goods, especially agricultural products, to demonstrate China's commitment to free trade and broaden market access through fruit imports.

In 2024, companies signed US$80 billion worth of deals during the six-day expo, a 2% increase over last year. Analysts noted that transactions involving food and agricultural products were a major highlight, reflecting China's growing focus on food safety and nutrition, with fruit imports playing a key role.

The CIIE Bureau stated that so far, exhibitors have reserved 300,000 square meters of exhibition space to showcase their products and technologies during the six-day event. Last year, more than 3,500 international companies participated in the expo, many of which were engaged in fruit imports and related industries.

When you are a Chinese fruit importer looking for a reliable Thai fruit supplier, or a Thai fruit exporter looking for a reliable Chinese importer, Tendata is a high-end solution for finding overseas customers. You can easily get a list of global fruit buyers and suppliers and their previous shipment values through Tendata. It is a leading import and export data source, providing import and export data for more than 228 countries. The following is a list of major Thai durian exporters in the first half of 2025 (contact Tendata for a complete list):