Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday took to social media to announce the country had received a 300-million-baht (US$8.1 million) order for frozen durians following his visit to Chanthaburi.
Communicating via social media platform X, Mr Srettha said he had great news to share following his weekend visit which underscored the popularity of Thai durians.
"Everybody likes Thai durians. Right after [my] visit came an order," he posted.
"I've been contacted by businessmen with an interest in making an order worth [...] 300 million baht per year. I've passed the matter on to the Commerce Ministry to handle the export quota.
"I'm happy for the farmers," Mr Srettha wrote.
On Saturday, the prime minister announced the government's plan to boost exports of durians, aiming at 130 billion baht this year.
The prime minister also instructed various ministry officials to help local farmers maintain both quality and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the Internal Trade Department's offices in the eastern region have stepped up inspections of weighing scales as fruit from the 2024 harvest hit the market in April-May, officials said.
Fruit farmers are advised to comply with the regulations, including properly displaying prices and using standardised weighing scales, or face legal action.
In other news, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday met the governor of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture to discuss trade expansion between Thailand and China, especially exports of live cattle to China.
Mr Phumtham, who led an executive team from the ministry to visit China's Yunnan province and Laos over the weekend, said Thai authorities asked China to support a quarantine zone for the trade.
Also raised during the meeting was enhancing cooperation in the transport of goods, particularly the route from Chiang Saen Port to Guanlei Port which could handle future exports of frozen cattle products.
Authorities also accepted a Thai request to extend working hours at Boten checkpoint in Laos and Mohan checkpoint in China to 9pm to support the export of Thai fruit to China during the 2024 harvest.
Fruit from this harvest season was slated for shipment at the end of this month.
The Foreign Trade Department says the trade value between Thailand and China was $126.2 billion last year, with $7.6 billion specifically between Thailand and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.