Chinese tourists surround a street stall in Bangkok, going crazy for durian fruit after Alibaba founder Jack Ma signed a $428 million deal to export the famous Thai dish to China.

E-commerce giant Alibaba signed the deal for durian fruit worth US$428 million (Bt13.4 billion) with the Thai government on April 20, according to state-run Xinhua News.

Ma said that shortly before news of the deal was announced, 40,000 durians were sold online, which rose to 80,000 within a minute.

The “golden pillow” durian, Thailand’s most well-known export variety, has been sold on Alibaba’s online supermarket since April 19. The market place listing opened a day before Ma signed four memoranda of understanding with the Thai government on trade, investment, support for e-commerce and tourism.

Durian, also known as the King’s fruit, was being sold at the stall in the clip for 120 baht per kg. It’s strong taste, pungent smell and heat inducing qualities have seen it become the ‘marmite’ of fruits in Asia.

Chinese tourists surround a street stall in Bangkok, going crazy for durian fruit after Alibaba founder Jack Ma signed a $428 million deal to export the famous Thai dish to China.

E-commerce giant Alibaba signed the deal for durian fruit worth US$428 million (Bt13.4 billion) with the Thai government on April 20, according to state-run Xinhua News.

Ma said that shortly before news of the deal was announced, 40,000 durians were sold online, which rose to 80,000 within a minute.

The “golden pillow” durian, Thailand’s most well-known export variety, has been sold on Alibaba’s online supermarket since April 19. The market place listing opened a day before Ma signed four memoranda of understanding with the Thai government on trade, investment, support for e-commerce and tourism.

Durian, also known as the King’s fruit, was being sold at the stall in the clip for 120 baht per kg. It’s strong taste, pungent smell and heat inducing qualities have seen it become the ‘marmite’ of fruits in Asia.