PUBLISHED: 21 Aug 2024 at 05:47
On August 5, 2024, China opened a new checkpoint at the Guan Lei port in Yunnan province, streamlining the export of Thai fruits via the Mekong River.
Caretaker Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced that the General Administration of Customs in China has established a new fruit clearance checkpoint at Guan Lei port, located in Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna region.
This development enables Thai exporters to transport fruit directly from Chiang Saen in Chiang Rai to Kunming, creating a faster transportation alternative compared to traditional road methods.
Minister Phumtham noted that the new checkpoint was initiated following a trade delegation visit he led to Yunnan on April 29, aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and facilitating Thai fruit exports to China.
The Thai Trade Centre in Kunming confirmed that the Guan Lei port officially became a fruit clearance checkpoint on August 5.
This port marks the 11th designated checkpoint for fruit imports into Yunnan province, establishing a vital waterway for fruit shipments from Southeast Asia and South Asia into China.
During the inaugural ceremony, the first shipment of durian and assorted fruits imported by Xishuangbanna Jinggu Agricultural Development Company successfully passed through customs at Guan Lei.
This initial batch, which departed from Chiang Saen port on August 3, arrived at Guan Lei in just 1.5 days.
The newly established route aims to significantly lower overall shipping times and logistics costs for fruit imports from Thailand and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, ensuring that these products can reach the Chinese market more swiftly and affordably.
Recent reports indicate that multiple companies have submitted quarantine approval requests for nearly 20,000 metric tonnes of fruit, including durians, mangosteens, watermelons, and bananas.
Relevant forecasts suggest that fruit imports through Guan Lei port may hit 150,000 metric tonnes by 2025, potentially doubling to 300,000 metric tonnes by 2030.
“Yunnan, situated at China’s southwestern frontier, is the closest province to Thailand, positioning it as a logistics hub for the distribution of Thai fruit and commodities across mainland China,” said Minister Phumtham.
“Previously, the majority of Thai fruit imports into Yunnan were processed through the Mohan checkpoint. This new upriver route offers a faster alternative to road transport.”
