BANGKOK, Thailand – The Ministry of Commerce has announced that longan prices in northern Thailand are climbing as government measures and nationwide campaigns help ease oversupply. Commerce Minister Jatuporn Buruspat said the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has been directed to monitor the market closely and manage the distribution of the Edor variety during its peak season.
Harvest output in eight northern provinces, including Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Tak, and Phrae, has already surpassed 700,000 metric tons, or 63 percent of this year’s total production. To absorb the surplus, the DIT has increased processing for dried fruit exports and expanded market channels both domestically and abroad.
Support from modern trade retailers, central agricultural markets, exporters, and the Northern Dried Longan Producers Association has been critical. Private companies, government agencies, and CSR programs have also purchased fruit directly from farmers, reducing pressure in growing areas. As of August 16, prices reached 27 baht/kg for fresh Grade AA bunches and 23 baht/kg for Grade A, while fallen fruit rose to 13 baht/kg for Grade AA and 8 baht/kg for Grade A, an increase of 4 to 5 baht from the previous week.
Consumer demand has been lifted by the nationwide “Thai Fruits Festival 2025,” staged in Bangkok and across the provinces. Orders from both the public and private sectors outside the northern region have helped redistribute longan, balancing supply and demand and contributing to stable prices.
Jatuporn said the ministry will continue measures under the “Thais Helping Thais” and “Dependable Commerce” frameworks through the end of the harvest. The approach, he added, has strengthened farmer confidence, stabilized the market, and reassured consumers across the country. (NNT)
