Beijing: The volume of China's durian imports from Malaysia is expected to increase by between 15 and 20 percent this year, driven by sustained consumer demand despite recent weather-related challenges in Malaysia, according to the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (MayCham).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MayCham's chairman Loh Wee Keng stated that demand from Chinese consumers continues to outpace supply, particularly for premium varieties such as Musang King and D24. Despite heavy rain in Malaysia causing some fruits to drop prematurely, Loh foresees an overall export volume increase of 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year, with demand remaining robust in the China market.
Loh explained that Malaysia's Musang King continues to command strong interest, especially among premium fruit consumers in China. He noted that farm prices for Grade A Musang King are high, reaching up to RM80 per kilogram during the off-season. Similarly, D24 durians are priced with the lowest being about RM15 per kg.
The China Ministry of Agriculture reported that the country imported 19.25 million kg of durians from Malaysia, valued at US$212.05 million, between January and December 2024. Loh recalled that 15 years ago, the farm price for frozen Musang King was significantly lower, ranging from RM12 to RM25 per kg.
Loh highlighted that Malaysia started exporting durians to China in 2010 and emphasized that Malaysian durians do not compete directly with Thai durians but rather with other fruits like kiwis, cherries, strawberries, and grapes from Japan. He urged industry players to protect the integrity of Malaysian durian brands in China, cautioning against traders mislabeling kampung durians as Musang King for higher profits.
He also acknowledged the supportive stance of the Chinese government, which has shown leniency on Malaysian durian exports due to strong diplomatic ties, and stressed the importance of maintaining the reputation and bilateral relations. Commenting on efforts to cultivate Musang King in China's Hainan island, Loh remarked that these have not matched the standards of Malaysian-grown durians, citing differences in soil and climate as key factors.