With a multi-billion baht turnover between January and August 2024, the Thai mangosteen has cemented its number 1 world status in export revenue.

The eight-month export value hit 15.4 billion baht ($457.9 million), with the promise to crack the annual average of 17 billion baht ($505.6 million) by year-end.

According to Thailand’s Commerce Ministry, the sale volume reached nearly 247,275 tonnes, just shy of the entire 2023’s exports at 248,612 tonnes. 

The January to August 2024 international sales however expanded by 25.8% over those of the corresponding period in 2023.

China accounted for the lion’s share of 90.83% of all export destinations up to August 2024 vis-á-vis 93.73% in the entire 2023.

Vietnam follows with 3% (2023), before South Korea and the United States, each with below 1% import share percentages.

But this does not mean that Thailand is only an exporter. The country consumes 9% of its mangosteen locally and imports from Indonesia during the off-season.

Given this export-oriented production, the country needs to concentrate its forces on export quality improvement. 

According to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director at the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy, upping quality can fight competition from Myanmar and Vietnam.

For one, Vietnam relies on Thailand for supplies of cheap mangosteen, as happened during the February-April 2024 young mangosteen season.  This means the competition threat, though it exists, simmers down to fruit quality upgrades.

Poonpong suggests quality elevation through Geographical Indication (GI) stickers, to help trace mangosteen origin. Several mangosteen areas already possess GI registrations, including Nai Wong Ranong, Khao Khiri Wong and Phang Nga Thip.

After quality upgrades, the ultimate step to create international appeal for Thai mangosteen will be the use of online campaigns. But this is not all, for there are also production, export and consumption stats to also consider, as they appear below.

Thai Mangosteen Statistics

Thailand is one of the major world producers of tropical mangoes, guavas and mangosteen. The country realized a combined output of 1,398,902 tonnes for these related fruits in 2022, per FAOSTAT.  Only India with 26,299,000 tonnes, followed by Indonesia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam produced more. Regarding mangosteen alone, Thailand ranks second worldwide in production at 191,703 tonnes, as of 2019, versus Indonesia’s lead at 270,110 tonnes.  

What is the ranking of Thailand in mangoes, guava and mangosteen exports?  

In 2020, Thailand ranked first in the export value of mangoes, guava and mangosteen exports worldwide at $247.96 million. This is even as it emerged second in quantity at 391,280 tonnes, after Brazil. Thailand’s export lead over top producers like India is by virtue of the fact that it consumes little of its production. For mangosteen, for instance, the country utilizes a paltry 9% of the output, locally. 

Which percentage of Thailand’s mangosteen is exported? 

Thailand exports 91% of its mangosteen in either raw or processed forms, as per the January-August 2024 export data. Of this amount, nearly all goes to China, or 90% of the 91%.  

What is Thailand’s share of of China’s total mangosteen imports? 

In 2023, China imported 85.07% of its mangosteen from Thailand, with Indonesia following suit at 14.91%. In reverse presentation, during the same year, Thailand exported 93.73%  of its mangosteen to China.