According to Thai media reports, the International Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Commerce’s office in Nanning, China, reported that on December 24, 2024, a batch of frozen durian flesh from Thailand was exported to China by sea through border trade. The goods were transported via the Qinzhou Port in Guangxi and, after clearing customs at the Puzhai Port in Guangxi, were sent to Guangxi Zhongguo Industrial Co., Ltd. located at the China-Vietnam border for processing.

This marks the first time Thailand has exported frozen durian flesh to China in this manner, reflecting the success of a business trial using sea freight for cross-border trade to import third-country goods for processing. This new channel allows agricultural products to be exported to China and processed.

The frozen durian flesh departed from Thailand’s Laem Chabang Port on December 17, 2024, and arrived at Qinzhou Port after a 4-day sea journey. After completing customs procedures at Qinzhou Port, the goods were transported overland to Puzhai Port for clearance, then sent to the border trade zone for processing. The entire process took 7 days.

It is understood that border trade refers to trade conducted by border residents living within 20 kilometers of China’s land borders, carried out in local government-designated markets, areas, or trading points. Each person’s daily trade quota is up to 8,000 RMB, and any amount exceeding this quota is subject to tariffs. Previously, China’s border trade was limited to neighboring countries, aimed at promoting the development of border trade through innovation.

Currently, China has expanded the list of countries eligible for border trade imports to include all ten ASEAN nations. The sea freight-based border trade will be strictly controlled by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Imported goods must meet the requirements of China’s government-regulated list of permitted border trade goods, and these goods are exempt from quarantine and isolation.

In addition, the Chinese side has stipulated the transport routes from ports to border customs. Imported goods cannot be sold directly in the market; they must be processed by Chinese manufacturers in border areas before entering the regular market.