BANGKOK: Thailand’s fruit imports rose 18% year-on-year in 2015 to reach more than half a million metric tons (MT), with apples leading the pack and melons showing the highest percentage growth.
Thai Customs Department statistics show apple imports rose 23% to reach 159,510MT, followed by table grapes which had growth of 45% to hit 127,400MT, and mandarins which were one the few crops that registered a downturn (-16% to 125,204MT).
The next four fruits in order of volume all showed increases: pears (+42% to 35,828MT), bananas (+46% to 14,324MT), melons (+145% to 13,853MT) and persimmons (+52% to 9,813MT).
Like mandarins, orange imports also declined, down 2% at 6,468MT. While accounting for much lower volumes compared to the total, steady rises were also seen for kiwifruit (+21 to 3,235MT), cherries (+21 to 1,865MT), strawberries (+25 to 1,333MT), dates (+30% to 731MT) and avocados (+23% to 532MT).
