ANALYSIS OF LOGISTICS COSTS OF LONGAN IN CHANTHABURI PROVINCE, THAILAND

Abstract

Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is an important economic fruit in Thailand with yearly export of about one billion baht. Longan produced at Chantaburi Province is mainly exported to China. The logistics costs were analyzed in this study by structured interview of growers and collectors. It was found that growers following GAP had yields averaging at 1,543 kg/rai (1 rai = 0.395 a), production cost of 8.956 baht/kg (1 baht = 0.032 USD) and logistic cost of 0.813 baht/kg. Variable cost was 8.033 baht/kg or 89.69% of the total production cost. Fixed costs included equipment depreciation of about 0.11 baht/kg or 1.23% of the total production cost. Non-GAP growers had lower yield of 1,499 kg/rai, production cost of 10.114 baht/kg, logistic cost of 1.004 baht/kg, variable cost of 8.96 baht/kg (88.59% of the total production cost), and fixed cost of 0.11 baht/kg (1.09% of total production cost). Comparing two model growers, it was found that yield, production cost and logistic cost did not statistically differ. Logistic costs of collectors included packaging materials, vehicle value depreciation and maintenance, labor, transportation, utilities and other administrative costs amounting to 11.13 baht/kg.