KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese buyers are increasingly looking beyond the popular Musang King for lesser-known durian varieties, creating new opportunities for growers to diversify their orchards.
Durian exporter Simon Chin said Malaysia’s advantage is its tree-ripened durians, which have a distinctive taste compared with those from other producing countries.
He said this had helped drive demand from China.
“Over the past two years, Chinese buyers have increasingly asked for more types when placing orders for Musang King and Black Thorn. Even kampung durians are in demand.
“These lesser-known clones could sell quickly once they find the right market,” he said at the Malaysia International Agriculture Technology Exhibition forum titled Where Is Malaysian Durian Heading? yesterday.
Durian farmer Alex Chan said Malaysia's strength lay in the wide range of varieties it could offer.
He said niche clones such as Red Prawn had performed particularly well in China as consumers became more familiar with Malaysian durians.
“Diversification is the trend. We have seen good demand for niche clones such as Red Prawn in China,” he said.
Chan said as Chinese consumers became more familiar with durians, some enthusiasts were now reviewing and comparing the taste of different selections.
He said consignments air-flown to provinces such as Henan and Hebei were sold within three days.
However, he said growers needed to produce enough fruit to meet demand.
“We have the demand and there must be enough supply. If the volume cannot keep up, there is no market,” he said.
Another farmer Nelson Neo said Malaysia should maintain its strength in producing tree-ripened durians while making better use of the wide range of varieties grown locally.
He said Sabah and Sarawak, in particular, had a rich selection of clones, but the trend among smallholders to replace existing trees with Musang King could affect the country's durian diversity.
“Diversification is important. Different regions have different clones, and we should find new markets for them,” he said.
Plantation grower and exporter Symantha Chai has called on larger orchards to plant a mix of clones as a long-term strategy.
"We need different clones to support pollination, so durian growers should consider planting Black Thorn, D24 and Tekka alongside their main varieties," she said.
Koperasi Pengusaha dan Pengeksport Durian Malaysia Bhd president Yap Chan Ming said Musang King and Black Thorn would likely remain the industry's mainstay, but other varieties would continue to have a role in both domestic and export markets.
He said the industry needed to build demand and improve distribution channels for lesser-known clones, while better logistics and lower transport costs would be crucial to enhance Malaysia's competitiveness against Thailand and Vietnam.
