Thai mango has become popular in the international market, with South Korea becoming the number one mango export market for Thailand, according to the analysis from Thailand’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office.

In 2024, Thailand’s fresh mango exports grew by 45.68%, reaching a total value of 4.716 billion baht (138 million USD). South Korea accounted for 62.2% of exports, worth 2.931 billion baht (86 million USD), surpassing Malaysia, which has long been the top importer from Thailand. Other important markets included Japan, Vietnam, and Laos.

This achievement is thanks to the South Korean government’s measure to waive import tariffs on mangoes in order to address supply shortages and reduce costs. In addition, trends of mango sticky rice on social media have fueled demand among Korean consumers, who increasingly view Thai mangoes as a premium product.

Currently, South Korea allows imports of only six types of Thai fruit, including mangoes, mangosteens, durians, bananas, coconuts, and pineapples. Thai fruit has gained recognition as high-quality products. Ensuring consistent quality will help boost confidence and opportunities to expand exports to other high-demand markets.