PETALING JAYA: On Sept 19, a vessel carrying two tonnes of Malaysian-grown durians docked in Dalian, China, after a 12-day sea journey.
The container was then sent to customs inspections, where the fruit would be opened and checked.
To Hernan Corp Sdn Bhd and its founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Anna Teo (pic), this marked a moment of truth: Could the durians, notorious for their fast perishability and sensitivity post-harvesting, make it through almost a fortnight of sea travel and remain in good shape? The answer was a resounding yes.
Thanks to advanced controlled atmosphere (CA) technology, the fruit was found still fresh and in good condition.
“For me, this is a breakthrough,” Teo told StarBiz. “This was our third trial across two years of hard work and testing. With this round, we now understand the required conditions and settings and have refined the necessary standard operating procedures.”
Over the two years, Hernan had worked with technology partners to test various transportation conditions and cold-chain solutions. This latest shipment utilised a Daikin CA container, which combines refrigeration with atmospheric control to “hibernate” the fruit, slowing down its respiration and ripening process to help maintain freshness and quality for longer periods.
Going beyond temperature regulation, the container’s oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are also actively balanced to manage the fruit’s respiration rate, which varies based on its size and weight.
With this voyage demonstrating greater potential for tree-ripened Malaysian durians to be transported while preserving a large portion of their freshness, it could also mean potentially lower logistics costs for larger shipping volumes using ocean transportation, compared to air freight.
Moreover, with better-preserved fruits that arrive with a longer remaining shelf life, distributors and retailers benefit from greater flexibility in handling and selling the product.
Teo noted that relying less on air cargo would also help reduce carbon emissions while providing more opportunities to expand further into the mass market in China. Crucially, the successful outcome of this latest trial could serve as a symbol of hope and optimism for the wider Malaysian durian industry, which has been shrouded in uncertainty and discussions around issues of oversupply and falling prices.
Teo said many durian farmers and investors, especially those who have invested in plantations recently, remain anxious about the industry’s future.
She noted that transportation has been a key part of the challenge, with higher logistics costs for exports keeping Malaysian durians at their origin point and out of buyers’ hands.
Shipping the fruits by sea while preserving their freshness could therefore offer a way forward.
“While there is much to be fine-tuned, improved, and perfected, this trial result is a step in the right direction,” Teo further said. Knowing that a viable solution is within reach should give us cause to be positive and drive us as an industry to find better ways to reach our markets.”
