In 2023, the value of durian exports from South-east Asia to China was US$6.7 billion (S$9 billion). - PHOTO: NYTIMES
SOUTH-EAST ASIA (New York Times): Before he started a company 15 years ago selling the world’s smelliest fruit, Eric Chan from Raub, Malaysia, had a well-paying job writing code for satellites and robots. His family and friends were puzzled when he made the career change.
The fruit, durian, has long been a cherished part of local cultures in South-east Asia, where it is grown in abundance. A single durian is typically the size of a rugby ball and can emit an odour so powerful that it is banned from most hotels. When Mr Chan began his start-up in his native Malaysia, durians were cheap and often sold from the back of trucks.
