KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has raked in over RM6bil from durian exports to China in the past seven years, with potential new markets including Taiwan and Peru being explored, says the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
The ministry said durian exports to China amounted to 115,359 tonnes or RM6.37bil between 2018 to June this year, with the figures based on the issuance of phytosanitary certificates.
“The ministry, through the Agriculture Department, is committed to exploring new opportunities and expanding our markets.
“Export values are forecasted to reach RM1.8bil by 2030, and involve exports of up to 69,000 tonnes,” it said in a written reply.
The ministry also cited statistics showing an upward trend in the number of exports to China.
Malaysia began exporting frozen durians in June 2019, with exports amounting to 3,177 tonnes valued at RM143mil. Durian pulp and paste exports also increased to 5,239 tonnes (RM168mil) that year.
In August 2024, Malaysia began exporting as much as 501 tonnes of the whole fresh fruit to China, with exports of frozen durians, pulp and paste variations dropping.
As of June this year, fresh durian exports to China rose to 773 tonnes, exceeding a value of RM50mil, while 3,599 tonnes and 5,241 tonnes of durian pulp and paste were exported, respectively.
The ministry was responding to a question by Sim Sze Tzin at the Dewan Rakyat who asked about Malaysia’s durian trade performance, and what other markets Malaysia is looking into.
