Thai fruit is expected to become 20-30% cheaper, making purchases more affordable for residents
Residents buying Thai fruit can expect it to be 20-30% cheaper
(Agricultural Wealth Network) Recently, the Thai-Yunnan Chamber of Commerce's proposal to build an "International Fruit Trading Center" in Kunming has received affirmation from the relevant departments of the municipal government. It is not hard to foresee that Kunming will become the distribution center for tropical fruit nationwide, and residents will also be able to enjoy cheaper Thai fruit.
"Currently, more than 90% of imported fruit in Kunming is sourced from Guangzhou." said Boss Wang, who specializes in the imported fruit business at the Jinma Zhengchang Fruit Wholesale Market. Although the Kunming-Bangkok Highway has opened to traffic, based on the current situation, Thai fruit sold in Kunming has not benefited from this. Guangzhou remains China's distribution center for imported fruit, with Thai imported fruit accounting for more than 80% of it.
Taking the Kunming-Bangkok Highway, it takes at most 3 days to get from Thailand to Kunming, while going from Thailand to Guangzhou and then shipping back to Kunming takes at least 6 days even when traveling day and night, and the transportation cost is about 20% higher.
"The China-Thailand Inspection and Quarantine Agreement only designates Jinghong Port as the designated customs clearance port for Thai fruit imports; Mohan Port is not allowed. This means Thai fruit cannot be imported via the Kunming-Bangkok Highway." explained a relevant staff member from the Commercial Affairs Office of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming. However, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming, and the Yunnan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau are currently coordinating, and Yunnan's Mohan and Daluo ports as well as the Mekong River Guanlei Wharf will reopen channels for importing Thai fruit and vegetable products.
On January 1, 2010, 90% of trade products between China and ASEAN countries will achieve zero tariffs, and fruit can also enjoy zero-tariff treatment. A relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jinguoyuan Trading Co., Ltd. believes that after zero tariffs, taking the Kunming-Bangkok Highway, Thai fruit arriving in Kunming will be 20%-30% cheaper than now.
However, some fruit traders hold the opposite view. "Although the channel has opened, Kunming is not China's distribution center for imported fruit. If sales volume cannot increase, it will be difficult to bring prices down." Most bosses doing imported fruit wholesale business in the Jinma Zhengchang Fruit Wholesale Market agree that after zero tariffs, Kunming still urgently needs to build a large-scale wholesale market for Thai fruit serving the whole country in order to realize the "price reduction" effect.
"The Thai-Yunnan Chamber of Commerce wants to invest in building an 'International Fruit Trading Center' in Kunming." introduced a relevant staff member from the Commercial Affairs Office of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming. On November 6, 2009, Kunming Vice Mayor Li Xi met with a delegation from the Thai Ministry of Commerce led by Bunchawat, Director of the China Affairs Department of the Thai Ministry of Commerce. The Thai-Yunnan Chamber of Commerce's proposal to build an "International Fruit Trading Center" in Kunming has received affirmation from the relevant departments of the municipal government. This means that a large-scale fruit trading platform between China and Southeast Asia is expected to be established, and Kunming will become China's tropical fruit distribution base.
"Currently, more than 90% of imported fruit in Kunming is sourced from Guangzhou." said Boss Wang, who specializes in the imported fruit business at the Jinma Zhengchang Fruit Wholesale Market. Although the Kunming-Bangkok Highway has opened to traffic, based on the current situation, Thai fruit sold in Kunming has not benefited from this. Guangzhou remains China's distribution center for imported fruit, with Thai imported fruit accounting for more than 80% of it.
Taking the Kunming-Bangkok Highway, it takes at most 3 days to get from Thailand to Kunming, while going from Thailand to Guangzhou and then shipping back to Kunming takes at least 6 days even when traveling day and night, and the transportation cost is about 20% higher.
"The China-Thailand Inspection and Quarantine Agreement only designates Jinghong Port as the designated customs clearance port for Thai fruit imports; Mohan Port is not allowed. This means Thai fruit cannot be imported via the Kunming-Bangkok Highway." explained a relevant staff member from the Commercial Affairs Office of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming. However, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming, and the Yunnan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau are currently coordinating, and Yunnan's Mohan and Daluo ports as well as the Mekong River Guanlei Wharf will reopen channels for importing Thai fruit and vegetable products.
On January 1, 2010, 90% of trade products between China and ASEAN countries will achieve zero tariffs, and fruit can also enjoy zero-tariff treatment. A relevant person in charge of Chongqing Jinguoyuan Trading Co., Ltd. believes that after zero tariffs, taking the Kunming-Bangkok Highway, Thai fruit arriving in Kunming will be 20%-30% cheaper than now.
However, some fruit traders hold the opposite view. "Although the channel has opened, Kunming is not China's distribution center for imported fruit. If sales volume cannot increase, it will be difficult to bring prices down." Most bosses doing imported fruit wholesale business in the Jinma Zhengchang Fruit Wholesale Market agree that after zero tariffs, Kunming still urgently needs to build a large-scale wholesale market for Thai fruit serving the whole country in order to realize the "price reduction" effect.
"The Thai-Yunnan Chamber of Commerce wants to invest in building an 'International Fruit Trading Center' in Kunming." introduced a relevant staff member from the Commercial Affairs Office of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming. On November 6, 2009, Kunming Vice Mayor Li Xi met with a delegation from the Thai Ministry of Commerce led by Bunchawat, Director of the China Affairs Department of the Thai Ministry of Commerce. The Thai-Yunnan Chamber of Commerce's proposal to build an "International Fruit Trading Center" in Kunming has received affirmation from the relevant departments of the municipal government. This means that a large-scale fruit trading platform between China and Southeast Asia is expected to be established, and Kunming will become China's tropical fruit distribution base.