PETALING JAYA: Durian lovers will get to enjoy the premium king of fruits from Raub, Pahang, at a more affordable price in December due to a bumper harvest as well as logistics disruptions in export to China, say sellers.
Raub district Industrial Plant Entrepreneurs Association president Nicky Koh said this week, prices for grade A Musang King durians plummeted to around RM40 per kg in Raub instead of RM60 per kg.
He said that grade B and C Musang King durian prices are RM30 to RM35 per kg.
“Durian export to China has trickled to a halt recently because of lockdowns and disruptions to China’s logistics.
“We reckon more local consumers can enjoy grade A Musang King durians, and with the affordable price, until Christmas,” he added.
He expects Raub could produce between 100 and 200 tonnes of durians daily in the next two weeks, but the local demand is insufficient to consume this much.
A durian orchard owner with over 30 years of experience, Stephen Chow, said that in 2016, many farmers enthusiastically planted Musang King durians and they are now seeing the results, with this year’s crop being a bumper one this season.
He said that in the coming week Raub would produce 50% more durians than in July, and locals would be able to eat good quality durians at an affordable price.
He added that when the durian harvest is in full swing, the grade A Musang King will be RM40 per kg while the B and C grades will be RM20 to RM30 per kg.
“In the next two to three years, we hope that the production in Raub will be stable and locals will be able to have grade A Musang King durians for RM50 per kg,” Chow said.
Meanwhile, Top Fruits Plantation managing director Dr Tan Sue Sian said that the durian prices dropped 10% this week, with grade B and C Musang King durian prices at RM20 to RM30 per kg.
“We expect large volumes of Musang King and D24 durians harvested in December at Raub.
“Most Malaysians prefer local kampung durians. Therefore, local consumers do not have a high demand for the Musang King durians, but we still find ways to store them or produce durian puree,” Tan said.
“We are exploring new markets. We have recently aimed at the European market and achieved significant export volumes.
“In the UK, Spain and Italy, the demand for Musang King durians is starting to increase,” he added.
A durian wholesaler from Raub, Thong Jia Le, said the wholesale price of Musang King durians is RM40 per kg and the wholesale price of D24s is RM10 per kg. He said Raub has more durians for this year-end season compared with last season.
