From durian runtuh to durian glut

PREDICTABLE, but also largely unavoidable. Could this really be what happened with the durian glut?

With a bumper 2026 harvest, overlapping seasons across many states, and years of expansion to meet China’s demand, supply has far exceeded what the market can absorb.

Chow Kai Pheng Enterprise Sdn Bhd (CKP) director Stephen Chow says that five to 10 years ago, farmers began seeing strong demand from China, which was very encouraging.

In response, farmers expanded their durian orchards, while new entrants also entered the market.

CKP itself joined the durian fervour in 2016, expanding into sourcing, packing, processing and exports.

Today, from its farm in Pahang, the company exports durians to Singapore, Hong Kong and China, and has buyers in other overseas markets.

Chow explains that because durian trees take years to mature, the industry is now seeing the results of decisions made years ago.

“As more orchards begin producing simultaneously, supply naturally increases much faster than demand. This is a normal cycle in agriculture,” he tells StarBiz 7.

Chow reckons demand from China has not slowed, but the issue is oversupply.

“Exporters are now competing more aggressively on price, so although sales volume may remain healthy, profit margins have become much lower than before.

“The challenge is no longer finding buyers – it’s remaining competitive,” he says.

According to the report, Malaysia’s 2026 Durian Market Shock: Oversupply, Premium Resilience, China Demand, and the Future of the Industry, Vietnam’s 2025 durian exports to China totalled US$3.44bil, while Thailand’s was just under US$4bil. In comparison, Malaysia exported US$37mil of fresh durian to China last year, while frozen durian exports were higher at US$202mil.

The disparity highlights the intense competition Malaysia faces from the two markets.

So, what’s next for durian farmers?

Chow says one of CKP’s key strategies is to develop agrotourism, as the company believes people today are looking for experiences rather than just buying products.

“Visitors can experience Malaysian durian orchards, learn about different varieties and enjoy freshly harvested fruit. By adding value through tourism and education, we can create new income streams while promoting Malaysian durian internationally,” he says.

The company is also exploring new export channels and has already received enquiries from new markets.

“We have been receiving enquiries from many other markets, including the United States, Taiwan, Japan and several other countries.

“While China will continue to be our largest market, diversifying our export destinations is important. Relying too heavily on one market increases risk, so expanding globally will strengthen the industry’s long-term resilience,” Chow explains.

Another durian seller, who sets up his stall in a Damansara neighbourhood, says the oversupply of the king of fruits has left farmers scrambling to get rid of fruit that has gone off because it was not sold in time.

Wanting to be identified only as Mohammad, he says that from late June to early July, he had to give away free durians, even the Musang King variety.

“Roadside fire sales – that’s what I was told to do. I do not grow my own durians, but I’ve been sourcing them from a farm in Pahang. Two weeks ago, I was selling Musang King at RM6 per kg and giving away free kampung durians,” he says.

Mohammad opines demand from China will not match the abundant supply for now.

“I think one way forward for farmers now is to truly consider and evaluate what they can do once the harvesting season for durians is over.

“Farmers need to be more versatile and plant other fruits or vegetables. Back then, farmers saw the money in durians, and maybe it is greed that has contributed to this oversupply now,” he reckons.

Chow, on the other hand, remains optimistic. He says that as production increases, durians will only become more affordable – a positive development, because it will expand the overall market.

“I believe Malaysia’s durian industry is entering a new stage of development, (moving) from relying on high prices to building a bigger, more sustainable global market. In the long run, that’s healthier for the industry and for consumers alike.”

Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Dr Mohd Firdaus Ismail, of the Faculty of Agriculture’s Department of Crop Science, says the economics of the durian industry has certainly changed.

He says farmers today should be more cautious about planting additional trees based on the assumption that durian prices will remain high.

“New planting can still make sense if it is tied to quality, traceability, suitable land, good agronomy, varietal strategy, processing access and reliable market channels. But indiscriminate expansion of Musang King or other popular clones without contracts, grading support, or downstream outlets could worsen future oversupply,” he opines.

According to Mohd Firdaus, farmers should plant for precision, resilience and market fit – not raw volume. He points out that there is still a way forward.

“Shift from a volume-first mindset to a quality-, resilience- and channel management-driven strategy. That means better nutrition management, pest control, harvest timing and quality sorting. Smallholders should consider forming cooperatives so they can share sorting equipment, cold storage, processing facilities, technical support and bargaining power,” he advises.

Mohd Firdaus reckons farmers should also diversify their sales channels, such as processing Grade B or Grade C fruits, or building stronger relationships with buyers.

“The goal is not to abandon durians, but to become less exposed to the lowest-priced commodity channel and less dependent on middlemen during peak harvest periods,” he says.

Overall, Mohd Firdaus believes the industry can become more resilient by establishing a transparent national grading framework, scaling up processing capacity and accelerating market access.

“This means improving compliant land and rail routes to China, strengthening biosecurity enforcement, supporting traceability, and positioning Malaysian durian as premium, tree-ripened, provenance-based fruit rather than competing only on bulk supply.”

The current glut may be painful for farmers, but for durian lovers, it is a rare moment when the king of fruits is no longer reserved for special occasions.

If the industry succeeds in becoming more resilient through better planning, diversified markets and smarter farming, today’s low prices may not last forever.

Until then, perhaps Malaysians should simply embrace the irony: after years of lamenting expensive durians, the country now has more than it knows what to do with.