1. A new route changes the question from ‘will it arrive?’ to ‘in what condition?’
On 6 April 2026, DITP reported that a China–Laos–Thailand cold-chain train carried 33 tonnes of fresh Thai durian from Laem Chabang through Nong Khai, Vientiane South and Mohan to Chengdu International Railway Port, with emphasis on continuous rail movement and fewer cargo transfers.
On 7 May 2026, DITP reported that the Qingbaijiang import distribution centre expected to handle about 20,000 tonnes of durian in 2026 and described a route case operating at about 13°C. These figures document that reported route context; they should not be treated as a brand performance claim or a universal specification for every durian lot.
2. A cold chain has at least five control points
Quality protection begins before the container door closes and does not end when the train arrives. Every handover can introduce heat, delay, impact damage or gaps in records.
- Before loading: confirm variety, harvest maturity, ripeness, fruit condition, cleanliness and packaging readiness.
- Stacking and airflow: prevent crushing while preserving airflow for the actual container and pack design.
- Transfers: limit time outside controlled conditions and record handover times at mode changes and borders.
- In transit: use reviewable loggers in representative positions and name who acts when readings fall outside the agreed range.
- At destination: compare fruit condition with records, receive against agreed criteria and continue distribution or ripening without an avoidable break.
3. Why one temperature is not the whole answer
Fresh produce remains biologically active after harvest. Temperature affects the rate of change, while conditions that are too cold or unsuitable for the fruit can also cause damage. Codex therefore treats packaging and transport as a system—covering preparation, containers, loading, damage prevention and transport conditions—rather than prescribing one number for every fruit.
For durian, suitable conditions should be validated with postharvest specialists, logistics providers, destination requirements and buyer specifications, considering variety, harvest maturity, ripeness, journey time and packaging. The 13°C route example should not be copied to every shipment without validation.
4. Turn transit data into verifiable trust
DITP reported on 8 May 2026 that after Youyiguan clearance, fruit is sorted, repacked and distributed through refrigerated networks across China. This shows that risk extends beyond the train to border handling, distribution centres and final delivery.
In the Siam Diamond context, responsible communication states what is actually known—such as origin, lot, selection date, product format, delivery window and storage guidance—without implying that every lot uses the same route or conditions. Good cold-chain records are not marketing decoration; they are evidence for decisions when actual quality diverges from plan.
