Thailand helps farmers sell surplus longan output

The Thai government is partnering with the private sector to support fruit growers, particularly longan farmers, amid oversupply, falling prices, and a concentration of production in limited regions.

According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, this year’s longan output is projected to exceed 1 million tonnes, up from 900,000 tonnes in 2024. To ease pressure on prices and address the surplus, the ministry has launched a series of management measures for some 151,000 tonnes of longan, focusing on domestic marketing, processing, and export.

Key strategies include the export of 15,000 tonnes of fresh longan, promotion of domestic consumption through the Thai Fruit Festival 2025, and facilitating connections between producers, retailers, and buyers.

Additional measures include encouraging corporate social responsibility (CSR)-driven purchases among private firms, subsidised logistics via Thailand Post, sales through Tao Bin vending machines and AirAsia Cargo, and expanded global outreach via 58 trade offices.

Thailand hopes these efforts will generate over 5.5 billion THB (approximately 170 million USD) in trade value.

The Thai private sector has also taken active steps to support farmers.

In a recent Facebook post, Thailand's former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced he had personally purchased 7 tonnes of fresh longan to support farmers in flood-affected Phrae province. Sansiri Group, where Srettha previously worked, and its partners also bought 50 tonnes of longan in a show of solidarity with local growers./.