Thailand has exported $186 million worth of durian to China during this year's first quarter, said a senior government official on Tuesday.

According to Trade Negotiations Department Director General Oramon Sapthaweetham, the sales of Thai durian to China from January to March this year secured $186 million, registering a 14 percent increase from the same period last year and accounting for 88 percent of a total of Thai durian export values to the world markets.

Thailand exported $1.5 billion worth of durian to China throughout last year, marking a 78 percent increase from 2019 and accounting for 73 percent of a total of Thai durian export values to the world markets, Oramon said.

Given the tax-free trading under the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China Free Trade Agreement, China has become the Thai durian's biggest export market, she added.