KUALA LUMPUR: Some 234,000 tonnes of durian worth RM5.17 bil were exported from 2017 to last year, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said Malaysian durian is being sold in 41 countries and added in a Parliamentary written reply on Wednesday (March 6) that the fruits are exported in several ways: fresh, frozen whole fruit, pulp and paste.
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According to the minister, China was the main export destination, representing 73% of total exports.
This comprised RM3.79 bil for 81,000 metric tonnes of fresh and frozen durian.
Singapore came in second with exports valued at RM414.82mil, followed by Hong Kong (RM333.82mil), the United States (RM179.11mil) and Australia (RM169.88mil).
Mohamad said continuous efforts were taken to penetrate new markets while strengthening existing ones.
“The Agriculture Department is also negotiating with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to export fresh whole durians to the republic,” he said in reply to Sim Sze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru), who asked about the total amount of durian exports to five main markets between 2017 and 2023.
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Sim also asked about the ministry’s efforts to penetrate new markets for durian.
Mohamad said 30 promotional programmes for this purpose were carried out abroad by the ministry and its agencies last year, up from 25 in 2022.
“The impact of these initiatives can be seen through the increase of durian exports,” he added.
