RAUB, Malaysia – A glut of durian, once touted as Malaysia’s next economic boom, is now threatening the livelihoods of farmers across the country as a shift in Chinese consumer preference towards fresh fruit overwhelms existing export infrastructure. Prices plummeted in December to a ten-year low of MYR10 (US$2.56) per kilogram, according to industry reports.
Liew Jia Soon, a durian farmer in Raub, north of Kuala Lumpur, exemplifies the challenges facing the industry. He returned to his family’s plantation in 2018, anticipating record earnings, but now faces a drastically different reality. “We farmers have seen a 60% drop in profits during this season,” he said, surveying unsold fruit last month.
While demand from China remains robust – the country imported $7.5 billion worth of durian in 2023, accounting for over 90% of global exports – the form that demand takes has changed. Historically, Malaysia primarily exported frozen durian pulp and paste and later, frozen whole fruit. Chinese consumers now overwhelmingly prefer fresh durians, creating a logistical bottleneck for Malaysian exporters.
“We need to obtain the supply chain to cater for this change in exporting fresh durians,” explained Eric Chan, president of the Durian Manufacturer Association. He voiced concerns over the limited capacity of flights between Malaysia and China to accommodate the increased volume of fresh produce.
The situation has been described as a “durian tsunami” by some within the industry. The rapid expansion of durian plantations, spurred by earlier successes with frozen exports and subsequent approval of frozen whole fruit shipments in 2019, has contributed to the oversupply. By 2024, national output reached 568,000 tons, nearly double the 2016 figure.
The shift in demand coincides with increased competition from other Southeast Asian producers. Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are all increasing their fresh durian exports, adding further pressure on Malaysian growers. Ken Tan, whose family operates Durianhill Plantation in Penang, reported a 40% decline in shipments to China this season compared to the previous year.
Despite the challenges, some farmers are adapting by selling directly to consumers from their orchards, bypassing intermediaries to maintain profitability. The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority noted that the price pressure has largely affected lower-quality durians, while premium varieties remain more resilient, according to Sin Chew Daily.
The Malaysian government has intervened by purchasing some of the surplus crop to support farmers. Agriculture Minister Mohamad Sabu characterized the oversupply as “temporary,” suggesting the peak season in June will provide a clearer assessment of the situation. He reiterated his belief that durians will ultimately drive economic growth for Malaysia.
The complexity of premium Malaysian varieties, such as the Musang King, and their nuanced flavors distinguish them from fruits produced in Thailand or Vietnam, according to industry experts. Fresco Green factory manager Chee Seng Wong noted that even a small percentage of Chinese consumers seeking high-quality durians represents a substantial market. “Maybe in the beginning we only liked durians that were sweet. But now we look for things like fragrance, richness and nuanced flavors,” said Xu Xin, a Chinese durian importer.
Official projections indicate Malaysia’s output will increase further to 590,000 tons this year, as previously planted trees mature. However, some farmers, like Stephen Chow of Chow Kai Pheng Enterprise, anticipate production exceeding demand for the next three to five years. “What Malaysia is experiencing now is just a preview,” he said.