Thailand statue

The supply of fresh produce in and out of Thailand’s capital was unaffected by the political riots that broke out in Bangkok on Monday and Tuesday this week, produce distributors have told Fruitnet.

The bloody street clashes between anti-government protesters and army soldiers, which brought road closures and reportedly left 121 injured and two dead, did deter people from shopping at some urban supermarkets, one supplier revealed, but overall fresh produce sales remained strong and distribution was not disrupted.

“There were no `import or` export problems since the protesters were concentrated in Bangkok and nothing happened at the airport. Now everything is back to normal,” one source said on Wednesday, once the government had restored order to the capital.

Order has largely been restored in Bangkok with the arrest of several of the protest leaders, although there is still a large military presence on the streets of the capital.

Protests in November closed off Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport, halting airfreight exports and causing significant disruptions to Thai fruit retail programmes in Europe in particular.