100 containers of Thai durians were rejected from entering China after being detected to contain the hazardous chemical dye, Basic Yellow 2 (BY2). This incident occurred before January 10, 2025, ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
As a result, all durians in these containers were returned to Thailand, while China promptly implemented stricter import regulations on durians from Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Also read: Durian: Southeast Asia's King Fruit with a Million Specialities
China's Strict Policies on Durian Imports
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) announced new regulations requiring all durian shipments from Thailand to be accompanied by laboratory test reports confirming the absence of BY2 and cadmium.
Strict inspections are also conducted at various entry points into China, including land, sea, and air routes. If any harmful residues are found, imports will be immediately halted. Additionally, China has implemented a three-stage protocol to handle violations:
- First violation: The shipment will be returned, and the exporter will receive a warning.
- Second violation: The shipment will again be returned with an additional warning.
- Third violation: The shipment will be destroyed within seven days.
This measure aims to ensure food safety for Chinese consumers while curbing the circulation of products that fail to meet health standards.
Also read: Viet Nam’s Rise as the King of Durian: Outshining Indonesia in the Global Market
Indonesia Ready to Fill the Market Gap
With the large-scale rejection of Thai durians, Indonesia sees a significant opportunity to supply durians to China. According to The Star, Liferdi Lukman, Director of Floriculture at the Directorate General of Horticulture of Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, stated that this situation allows Indonesia to increase its direct durian exports to the Chinese market.
Efforts to penetrate the Chinese market are already underway, although the bilateral agreement regarding the shipment of frozen durians is still in the finalization stage. This agreement, which is expected to be signed next month, will allow Indonesian durians to enter the Chinese market on a larger scale.
Also read: Durian: Southeast Asia's King Fruit with a Million Specialities
The Potential of Indonesian Durians in the Global Market
Indonesia boasts various premium durian varieties, such as Musang King and Montong, and unique local durians with taste and quality comparable to those of other countries. With China’s newly enforced stringent regulations on durians from Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, Indonesian durians have the potential to become a new alternative for consumers in the Chinese market.
Moreover, Indonesia continues to enhance export quality standards by implementing rigorous monitoring systems to detect chemical residues in agricultural products. This initiative is expected to increase global market confidence in Indonesian durians, not only in China but also in various other countries.
Also read: Malaysia's First Major Durian Festival: A Celebration of the World’s Best Durian
A Major Opportunity for Indonesia in the Export Market
The rejection of more than 100 containers of Thai durians by China presents a significant opportunity for Indonesia to expand its market share. With China's new regulations and Indonesia’s readiness to enhance export quality standards, Indonesian durians have the potential to become a key player in the global durian market.
If the export agreement with China is finalized soon, Indonesian durians could become a leading commodity dominating the international market.
