Hainan's tropical fruits go global under free trade port policies

Hainan is China's only tropical island province, accounting for 42.5 percent of the country's tropical land area. With abundant sunshine and rainfall, it is highly suitable for growing tropical fruits. These fruits have long been regarded as one of Hainan's most distinctive and productive agricultural sectors, playing an important role in driving regional economic development and increasing farmers' incomes.

In the international market, Hainan is leveraging the advantages of its free trade port policies to continuously expand the "international circle of friends" for its tropical fruits. Sanya-grown durians have entered Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand and Malaysia under Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) tariff preferences, filling a long-standing gap in China's durian exports.

Data show that in 2024, Hainan exported 16,200 tons of fruit, an increase of 192.9 percent year on year, with an export value of 205 million yuan (about $29 million), up 99.08 percent from the previous year.