FROM China to Europe and the United States, Malaysia’s durians are making their mark worldwide, with exports soaring in recent years as global appetite for the King of Fruits grows.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said between 2020 and 2024, Malaysia’s durian exports to Europe surged by 162%, while shipments to North America and the Middle East rose by 5.2% and 8.8% respectively.
He said this growth was driven by coordinated efforts to expand export markets and promote Malaysia’s premium durian varieties, particularly Musang King, which remains highly sought after internationally.
“China continues to be the main export destination, with exports valued at RM1.19bil in 2023, followed by Hong Kong (RM101mil), Singapore (RM76mil), Indonesia (RM58mil) and the United States (RM35.4mil),” he said in a written reply to Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub).
In total, durian exports rose from RM570.8mil in 2020 to RM1.51bil in 2023 before easing slightly to RM1.18bil last year.
Malaysian durians are now exported to more than 40 countries, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Spain.
To further boost exports, the Agriculture Department is helping orchards obtain the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices certification, a key requirement for export. So far, 1,933 durian farms have been certified nationwide.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, RM45mil has been allocated for new and replanting projects covering over 9,400ha to support long-term fruit production.
