PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian fresh durians could potentially clear customs in China within three to four hours under a proposed fast-track mechanism being explored by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), China Henan Aviation Group Co Ltd (CHAG) and Tropika Makmur Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (TMM).
According to MAHB in a statement, the proposed "inspect-on-arrival and release-upon-compliance” model under KUL-CGO Smart Durian Fast Track would enable the entire process, from aircraft arrival to document formalities and cargo collection, to take only three to four hours.
The initiative is being explored under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the three parties at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (Maha) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Friday (Sept 4).
MAHB said the initiative aimed to facilitate faster, more visible and better-coordinated movement of Malaysian durians and other time-sensitive agricultural products between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).
"The Smart Durian Fast Track will explore improvements spanning handling and inspection, free zone access, customs coordination, permit and certification visibility," it added.
Moving forward, the two airports will use the Malaysia Durian and Tropical Fruit Export Centre (MADTEC) as the pilot entity to jointly explore the establishment of the Smart Durian Fast Track.
MAHB said the initiative would involve developing a dedicated corridor and platform to optimise cross-border transportation and cold-chain logistics solutions for Malaysian fresh durians.
Its Managing Director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the collaboration brought together the airport, aviation and agri-trade ecosystems to enable Malaysian perishables to move through the supply chain more efficiently, with greater visibility and predictability.
"Through this collaboration, we are bringing together the airport, aviation and agri-trade ecosystems to enable Malaysian perishables to move through the supply chain more efficiently, with greater visibility and predictability.
"Through the Smart Durian Fast Track, KLIA will serve as a practical test bed to advance a more seamless cargo journey within the broader Ministry of Transport-led Air Cargo Reform,” he said.
Meanwhile, TMM chairman Datuk Suffian Awang said Malaysia’s durian exports had grown into a billion-ringgit industry, reaching RM1.51bil in 2023, with China accounting for RM1.19bil.
"By providing a shared platform that brings together handling, logistics and export processes, we hope to lower barriers to market, broaden participation and enable more Malaysian durian growers and traders to access China efficiently,” he said.- Bernama
