Chinese demand for premium varieties like Musang King and D24 continues to outstrip supply, according to Loh Wee Keng, chairman of the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China.
“Although heavy rain in Malaysia caused some fruits to drop prematurely, I foresee the overall export volume this year to be 15% to 20% higher compared to last year,” he told state-owned news outlet Bernama.
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A durian is seen at a shop in Kuala Lumpur on July 8, 2020. Photo by AFP |
Loh pointed out that Grade A Musang King, a special variety that is mostly grown in Malaysia only, is now priced at $7.12 per kilogram at farms, and can jump more than 2.5 times during off-season.
Last year, China imported US$212 million worth of durian from Malaysia. Although Malaysia has been export durian to China since 2010, the two countries only signed a special protocol on durian imports last year, which paved the way for Malaysian exporters to claim a bigger share in the world’s largest durian market.
Thailand has traditionally been the biggest supplier of durian to China, but Malaysia, for now, does not seem to prioritize overtaking the competitors’ position.
“We are not competing with Thai durians because the prices and quality are completely separate matters,” Loh said, referring to the fact that Thailand’s Monthong durian is often priced lower compared to the premium variety Musang King.
“We are actually competing with kiwis and cherries as well as those products from Japan such as strawberries and grapes,” he added.
One of the top priority in Malaysia’s export strategy is to preserve the authenticity and brand of the Musang King variety.
“Some traders mislabel kampung durians and sell them as Musang King to get higher profits. This is damaging,” Loh said, adding that educating Chinese consumers in the differences between Musang King and other varieties should be a main focus.
Commenting on efforts to cultivate Musang King in China’s Hainan island, Loh said the results fall short of Malaysian standards.
“There was initial excitement, but it faded quickly. The taste is different due to the soil and climate. My friend also tried growing it here, but it wasn’t successful. Hainan Musang King cannot replace the Malaysian original,” he added.
