Guangdong Province in south China imported 19,000 tons of fruit from ASEAN countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in January this year, a rise of 33.6 percent from the previous year, latest customs statistics show.

Guangdong mainly imported durians, longans, mangosteens and bananas from ASEAN. As the major consumer market of ASEAN fruit, Guangdong accounts for nearly 50 percent of China's total imports of ASEAN fruit, according to the Customs of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

Guangdong imported 386,000 tons of fruits last year, 228,000 tons of which were from ASEAN countries.

Thailand is the leading import market of Guangdong, followed by the Philippines and Indonesia. Guangdong imported 14,000 tons of fruit from Thailand in January, and its imports from the Philippines and Indonesia reached 3,668 tons and 1,357 tons respectively.

China and Thailand canceled tariffs on 108 kinds of vegetables and 80 kinds of fruits from Oct. 1, 2003. Reduction of tariffs on more than 500 varieties of commodities also began in early 2004 under the framework of the China-ASEAN free trade zone. Tariffs on these commodities will be eradicated this year.

Experts have suggested that relevant departments in China should take effective measures to minimize the impact on Chinese fruit growers of ASEAN fruits pouring into Guangdong.

Source: Xinhua