KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 413.61 metric tonnes of fresh Malaysian durians, valued at RM24.84 million, were exported to China between August and December last year.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said that according to the Agricultural Counsellor’s Office in Beijing, Malaysian fresh durians have received a highly positive response in the Chinese market, where the fruit is regarded as a premium product.

“Malaysian durians are now available in 16 provinces across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Chengdu.

“The counsellor’s office in Beijing is also actively promoting our durians to Chinese consumers to highlight the unique characteristics and advantages of the various durian varieties from Malaysia,” he said during minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub), who enquired about the total approved volume of fresh durian exports from Malaysia to China.

Arthur added that at present, Malaysian durians are in high demand in countries such as China and Singapore, with China’s fresh durian market valued at RM32 billion in 2023.

One of the main challenges faced by Malaysia’s durian industry in maintaining the competitiveness of fresh durians, he said, was the inability to meet demand.

“The demand for fresh durians in the export market cannot be met with current production levels, as the supply of fresh durians is limited to the harvest season, which typically occurs only twice a year,” he said.

Meanwhile, in response to a supplementary question from Chow regarding government initiatives to assist durian farmers, Arthur said the ministry, through the Department of Agriculture, had provided incentives for durian cultivation under the Long-Term Fruit Crop Development Project, as part of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

“Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 4,762 individuals have benefited from this programme, receiving support such as farm infrastructure development, agricultural inputs, and farming equipment,” he said.