First Shipments Arrive from Davao

Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 11 April – Chinese wholesalers, retailers and consumers turned out in droves to welcome the arrival of the first shipments of fresh Philippine durian into China at Jiaxing’s Haiguangxing Premium Fruit Market, the major gateway for imported fruits into East China.

Joining Chinese officials and fruit traders at the ceremony were Consul General Josel F. Ignacio and Commercial Vice Consul Mario C. Tani of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Shanghai C. Tani.

Three containers’ load of fresh PH durian were unveiled to great fanfare as befits the landmark event. Durian tasting for the large audience closed the event.

The Chinese side included Mr. WANG Jianjun of the Jiaxing Foreign Affairs Office; Haiguangxing Fruit Market Chairman WANG Weiming and General Manager XU Zheng; CEO WEI Yalin of Zhejiang Xinghang Agricultural Science & Technology Co., Ltd.; and General Manager YE Jianping of Jiaxing Fuye Trading Co., Ltd.

Zhejiang Xinhang of the Xinglong Group are the local partners of Davao City-based pioneer durian exporter Eng Seng Food Products.

The fresh durians were part of the 28-ton first shipment out of Davao City on 6 April that entered through Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The shipment marks the first concrete outcome of the bilateral agreement on the export of fresh durian to China sealed during the Presidential visit of January 2023.

Durian is a top-seller in China and was the country’s top imported fruit in 2022, at 825,000 tons valued at USD 4.03 billion. Demand continues to outpace supply.

“I am pleased to be welcoming today to China a different kind of V-I-P from the Philippines: a ‘V-ery I-mportant P-roduce’”, said Consul General Ignacio in his address. With the Philippines dominating the banana and pineapple market, “we wish to add to our good reputation by providing you the best and freshest Durian, rivaling that from other countries. END.