1510. Durian Production in Rayong Province, Eastern Thailand

I visited a durian farm in Rayong Province in eastern Thailand. Durian is one of Thailand’s leading export agricultural products, and its industry has been rapidly expanding, particularly due to growing demand from the Chinese market. At the site, I was struck by the presence of irrigation facilities and the high level of management involved.

Thailand is one of the world’s leading durian-producing countries. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), durian production in 2025 is projected to reach approximately 1.6 million tonnes, and annual production has generally ranged between 1.6 and 2.0 million tonnes in recent years (MOAC, 2025). According to FAO (2023), while precise global production statistics for durian are not available, annual production in the three major producing countries—Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia—is estimated at around 3 million tonnes. Thailand is by far the world’s largest exporter, accounting for approximately 94% of global durian export volumes on average during 2020–2022 (FAO, 2023). In addition, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce reported that fresh durian exports from Thailand represented 93.3% of the global market by export value in 2022 (PRD, 2023). China is by far the most important export destination, serving as the largest market for Thai durian exports (Bangkok Bank, 2025).
Rayong Province, together with neighboring Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, forms one of Thailand’s principal durian-producing regions. Given the industry structure described above, Eastern Thailand functions not only as a major production area but also as a key export hub. According to representatives of the orchard visited during the field tour, a large proportion of harvested durians are exported to China.

Durian has the characteristic of forming flower buds under dry conditions, while fruit development is promoted by rainfall. While moderate dryness encourages flowering, excessive drought has serious impacts on production. It can cause the dropping of flowers and young fruits, leading to a significant decline in yield. In addition, insufficient water results in poor fruit development, producing smaller fruits and reducing overall quality. As a result, more farmers are introducing irrigation systems. Even though the farm I visited was small-scale, irrigation was well established and water management was carefully controlled. In this way, water management is not merely a supplementary practice but a crucial technology that determines both yield and quality.

During the visit, I had the opportunity to taste two varieties: the main Thai variety “Monthong” and the relatively rare “Phuang Mani.” Monthong is the representative variety of Thailand. It is widely accepted in international markets due to its strong sweetness and mild flavor with little bitterness. In addition, its thick flesh, small seeds, and durability during transport make it the core variety for exports to China.
In contrast, Phuang Mani had a much richer and more distinctive flavor. The fruit is relatively small, but its sweetness and aroma are stronger than those of Monthong, and the texture was very creamy. In recent years, it has been gaining attention for its high quality.

References
FAO (2023) FAO. 2023. Durian Global Trade Overview 2023. Rome.　 https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cc8384en

Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Thailand (2025). Fruit yields up in 2025; Durian hits 1.6 million tons https://www.opsmoac.go.th/guangzhou-news-files-471191791125

Government Public Relations Department (PRD) (2023) Thailand ranks #1 in durian exports, with 93.3% global market share https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/2078/iid/180041

Government Public Relations Department (PRD) (2026) Thailand's Commerce Minister Takes Action for Durian Sector. https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/2078/iid/498340

Bangkok Bank (2025) From Orchard to Empire: The journey of Thailand’s Durian https://www.bangkokbank.com/th-TH/-/media/a4be6005ca354249aed043ca228bb…

Contributor: KANAMORI Norihito, Southeast Asia Liaison Office