Oct 27, 2022
Contrary to the pessimistic views on Chinese ZCP (Zero Covid Policy) in the early months
of this year, durian export of Thailand to China from January to July in 2022 outperformed
the same period in 2021 (632,483 vs. 586,249 tons in Table 1). What happened to the fruit
logistics under Covid 19? What lessons we may learn? Prof. Dr. Tang Zhimin, Director of CASPIM, recounted the story en route in his forthcoming book entitled “Fruit That Will Last: Thai Fruit Export to China”.
The shock of logistic breakdown came from congestion in the border check points.
During the bad days of February and March, the passthrough time in Youyiguan increased
from 10-15 minutes to several hours, due to longer hours for Covid test and disinfection.
The passthrough rate decreased from more than 1,000 trucks per day to less than 100.
As a result, durian export to China plummeted to 6,680 and 7,465 tons in February and
March 2022, from 25,858 and 42,562 tons in the same period in 2021 (Table 1).
However situations changed since April 2022. The passthrough rate in Youyiguan reached
more than 300 trucks a day in mid April, and was back to more than 1000 by October 1.
Durian export to China climbed to 219,379 and 131,575 tons in June and July 2022, even
more than 122,642 and 96,374 tons in the same period in 2021 (Table 1).
Lessons from the turn over include:
Firstly: Increase in the passthrough efficiency especially in land border check points on
the Chinese side (Figure 1): a) adopt Drop and Pull Transport (甩挂) method, b) fruit green
channel, and c) 7×24 customs clearance by appointment.
Secondly, diversification of the mode of transportation (Table 2): to increase the
proportion of sea and air transport in 2022; to utilize the rail transportation especially the
new Chinese-Lao rail way since April 1 (graph above).
Thirdly, the efforts of the Thai governments and private sectors: to cover each step of the
supply chain with 2P2S (people, process, system & structure) mechanism and
certification of Covid test and disinfection to reduce the risk of close down in border
check points once the virus is detected.
