Durian emerges as new hope for Malaysia’s exports

Malaysia’s export value of durians is expected to rise to RM1.8 billion (more than $400 million) by 2030, according to its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).

As reported by Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, in a Sunday statement, the KPKM reported that Malaysia's durian export performance over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022 was encouraging, with the value growing by RM822.8 million or 256.3%.

In 2022, the country’s export of the tropical fruit reelled in RM1.14 billion, the highest ever recorded.

China is the primary export market for Malaysian durians, with a record export value of RM887 million in 2022, the KPKM said. It also noted that the nation’s first fresh durian shipment to China, carried out on August 24, arrived at Zhengzhou Cargo Airport.

The export of fresh durians to China became possible after the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Durian from Malaysia to China was signed by Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Chinese Minister of the General Administration of Customs China Yu Jianhua in Putrajaya on June 19.