China is fast-tracking its love for durians with the construction of a new fruit transit centre in Dalian, aimed at slashing delivery times from Southeast Asia. The Liaoning Port Group began building the Dalian Northeast Asia Fruit Transit Centre in late August to support a newly launched “durian express” shipping service. Introduced on August 26, the service cuts shipping times to as little as six days nearly half the previous duration. Expected to handle up to 10,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of durians annually, the project reflects China's surging demand for the thorny, fragrant fruit. The initiative is set to boost efficiency in the fruit supply chain and further strengthen China’s trade ties with Southeast Asia.