IPOH: Local durian sellers are facing slow sales due to high prices and the hot weather, even with the durian season in full swing.
Durian seller Foong Jian Quan, 35, said he believes that people were turned off by the current asking prices.
Foong, who has been selling the king of fruits at Pasir Pinji for five years, said durians were being sold at high prices due to a limited supply.
“As supplies increase, I expect about a 10% drop in prices,” he said.
Durian season in Malaysia typically starts around June or July, and could last until September.
A check on the prices here found that the Black Thorn was sold at about RM78 per kg, while Musang King was priced between RM35 and RM68 per kg, depending on the grade.
Apart from the prices, the hot weather is also impacting demand, as many people are hesitant to buy durians.
“Many people avoid eating durian during the hot spell due to its reputation for increasing body heat,” said durian seller Noel Tee, 32.
“I hope there will be a surge in customers by the end of this month and into early August.”
Tee said she hopes to attract both local and foreign customers.
“Over the years, we have had many foreign tourists at our stall, mostly from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia, so I expect to see more tourists this year,” she added.
