Thailand imported US$123 million worth of fruits and vegetables from Vietnam in the first seven months of 2024, a 70% jump from a year ago.

Thailand is now the fourth largest market for Vietnam, up from the sixth last year, according to customs data cited by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

China remains by far the biggest buyer of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, having imported nearly $2.5 billion worth, up 25%.

It is followed by the U.S. and South Korea, whose imports surged by 31% and 51% to $189 million and $188 million.

Overall, Vietnam’s exports have been worth an estimated $4.6 billion, up 29%, the association said.

Ngo Tuong Vy, CEO of fruit exporter Chanh Thu, said Thailand has ramped up frozen durian purchases, leading to a significant spike in exports.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, the association’s general secretary, said Thailand is importing durian because its domestic supply is seasonal and has fallen sharply this year due to El Nino-fueled droughts. In Vietnam durian is grown year-round.

Thailand is also exporting some of the imported fruit to China, Nguyen said.

Vietnamese dragon fruit, longan and lychee are also imported by major Thai retail chains as they are popular among consumers.

Fruit and vegetable trade between the two nations has seen a major shift in the last decade. Thailand used to be Vietnam’s top fruit and vegetable supplier from 2014 to 2019.

But by 2023 imports had dwindled to $46.5 million worth of products, a mere 10th of the 2019 figure.

This year, however, imports have jumped by 35% to $32 million. Popular imports include dates, mangosteens, tamarind, and pomegranates.