Thailand Turns to Durian Influencers to Clear Looming Glut

Thailand is turning to livestreamers to clear a looming durian glut, slashing prices as weaker Chinese demand threatens its biggest export market.

Top online seller Pimradaporn Benjawattanapat, or Pimrypie, led a high-energy livestream Tuesday night, pitching to her combined 31 million TikTok and Facebook followers. Known for selling everything from her own-brand fish sauce to luxury perfumes, Pimrypie priced premium Monthong at as low as 100 baht ($3) per fruit, well below typical market levels. Some “jumbo” pieces went for 480 baht, compared with 700-800 baht for similar-sized durians under normal conditions.