Office of Agricultural Affairs in Beijing in collaboration with Royal Thai Embassy Beijing, Royal Thai Consulate-General in China and Office of Commercial Affairs in China launched www.thaifruits-online.com, a website available in Thai, English and Chinese languages to promote Thai fruits in China.
The website is aimed to provide clear and useful information about Thai fruits for consumers, traders and importers in China in several aspects such as types of fruits, hot to choose and consume, fruit seasons and nutritive value. To increase demand and expand Thai fruit market in China, the website also provides relevant information and database for Thai fruit growers and exporters like export regulations and procedures, logistics and channels, exporters and importers lists and prices in Chinese market.
In order to enable direct communications between Thai fruit growers and Chinese traders, the website also provides translation services as to expand business opportunities and increase long-term competitiveness.
Apart from the website and Thai fruits database, there are also plans on distribution of PR media, establishment of call center in Bangkok, Beijing and Guangzhou, grand opening of the website and mini exhibitions in trade fairs in several Chinese regions.
With approximate population of 1.340 billion, the People’s Republic of China is a huge market with average economic growth of 8-10 per cent, making it a potential market targeted by many exporters worldwide including Thailand.
During January - October 2011, the total value of Thai exports to China is 707,477 million baht, or 27% increase from the whole year of 2010. Major exports are agricultural and agro-industrial products, with total value of 192,706 million baht or 41% increase from the whole year of 2010. Key products include rubber, cassava, sugar, high-grade rice, fresh and processed fruits and marine products.
The demand of Thai fruits is increasing in the Chinese market due to several factors including auspicious names, good taste and high nutritive value, colorfulness and unique shapes. Currently distributed via land, waterway and air channels, Thai fruits are of competitive prices with those from other countries as they are duty-free under ASEAN-China and Thailand-China Free Trade Agreements.
The number of Thai fruits exports to China has been increasing annually. During the first 10 months of 2011(January-October), the total value of Thai fruits exports to China is 12,007 million baht, or 119% increase from the whole year of 2010.
Seeing potential and opportunities of Thai fruits in China market, Mr. Thammarat Wanglee, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives said that the website targets at buyers, importers, modern trade stores, major exporters, trade associations, fruits growers and traders, cooperatives and those interested in trading Thai fruits in the Chinese market.
The website could be beneficial for Thailand as it would make Chinese consumers know more about Thai fruits, which could lead to increasing demand and opportunities for the business, resulting in more income for the country. Also, fruit growers and exporters would be provided with useful information so that they can produce and export quality fruits that meet China’s standards, which could help reducing lost from quarantine, return and destruction processes.