February 26, 2025
PETALING JAYA – The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) projects a 20% to 25% increase in durian exports this year due to heightened demand from China.
Also, growers say that China’s recent restrictions on fresh durian imports from Vietnam and Thailand will further boost demand for Malaysian durian.
Cultivation is also being expanded to more states, which will allow for the fruit to be produced all year round.
However, experts warned that the government must regulate the farms to prevent practices such as pre-cutting and using banned chemicals, which have caused China to ban fruits from Thailand and Vietnam.
Fama director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri said the projection is based on growing export trends, the expansion of farms and processing infrastructure, and strengthened trade ties and promotional efforts.
He cited several key efforts by state governments to increase durian cultivation such as in Kelantan, where 3,000ha have been devoted to Musang King plantations.
Malaysia Durian Exporters Association president Sam Tan said expanding farms in Johor, Penang, Perak and other states will allow for nearly year-round production.
Despite the high demand with the Musang King variety fetching RM83 per kilo at farm price, Tan warned that Malaysia must not prioritise profit over quality and uniqueness.
He urged the government to implement a policy against pre- cutting, to protect the market’s integrity and preserve the fruit’s quality and authenticity.
“Unlike in Thailand and Vietnam, where chemicals and pre-cutting are used, our durians ripen naturally and fall from the tree before being picked up.
“This ensures a chemical-free product that is highly regarded in markets like China.
“To protect this practice and prevent unscrupulous farmers from spoiling our market and reputation, we should have such a policy in place,” he said.
Pre-cutting refers to harvesting durians before they ripen.
On Feb 6, Thai authorities disposed of a total of 64,671kg of durians rejected by China for being contaminated with Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), a dye used to artificially enhance the colour of the fruit.
On Feb 21, Vietnam also reported an 80% drop in its durian exports to China in the first half of February this year, with only 3,500 tonnes shipped, due to cadmium and BY2 residue.
It is suspected that some exporters dip the durians in dyes to make them appear more appealingly yellow.
Malaysia began exporting fresh durians to China last year with RM24.84mil in 413.61 metric tonnes shipped between August and December.
According to the data on Trade Map, Malaysia’s average export price to China stood at US$16.72 per kilo – nearly four times higher than Vietnam’s (US$4.31/kilo) and three times higher than Thailand’s (US$5.32/kilo).
Dr Tan Sue Sian, the managing director of Top Fruits, a leading durian exporter, said Malaysian durians have a distinct advantage in the competitive multi-billion market due to unique cultivation and harvesting practices.
“We focus on natural environmental and nutrient-based fruiting, unlike Vietnam and Thailand, which use hormones and pre- cut methods.
“Malaysian durians are harvested naturally, enhancing quality and safety,” said Sue Sian.
With certifications like Good Agricultural Practice (MyGAP or GlobalGAP) and a commitment to sustainable agriculture, Malaysia offers superior-quality durians, as “these practices ensure Malaysian durians stand out globally”.