Malaysia’s durian exports to China hit $1.85 billion in seven years
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Statistics showed an upward trend in durian exports to China.
PHOTO: BT FILE
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has raked in over RM6 billion (S$1.85 billion) from durian exports to China in just seven years, and now the government is eyeing new markets in Taiwan and Peru to keep the momentum going.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said durian exports to China amounted to 115,359 tonnes or RM6.37 billion between 2018 and June 2025, with the figures based on the issuing of phytosanitary certificates.
“The ministry, through the Agriculture Department, is committed to exploring new opportunities and expanding our markets to Taiwan and Peru as well.
“Export values are forecast to reach RM1.8 billion by 2030 and involve exports of up to 69,000 tonnes,” it said in a written parliamentary reply on Oct 7.
The ministry cited statistics showing an upward trend in durian exports to China.
In 2018, up to 3,555 tonnes of pulp and paste durians worth RM202 million were exported.
Malaysia began exporting frozen durians in June 2019, with exports amounting to 3,177 tonnes and valued at RM143 million.
Pulp and paste durian exports increased to 5,239 tonnes, valued at RM168 million for that year.
In 2020, frozen durian exports increased to 6,225 tonnes, valuing at RM286 million while pulp and paste exports dropped to 3,456 tonnes.
Frozen durian exports surged twofold in 2021, with 12,153 tonnes worth RM577 million exported to China. Pulp and paste durian exports also rose to 5,895 tonnes worth RM368 million.
The increasing trend of durian exports to China continued in 2022, with a whopping RM1.277 billion or 13,401 tonnes of frozen fruit exported. But pulp and paste exports dropped to 5,703 tonnes.
In 2023, as much as 13,983 tonnes of frozen durian were exported to China worth RM738 million with pulp paste exports rising twofold to 12,321 tonnes worth RM623 million.
In August 2024, Malaysia began exporting as much as 501 tonnes of fresh durian to China, with exports of frozen durians and the pulp and paste dropping.
As at June 2025, fresh durian exports to China have risen to 773 tonnes, exceeding a value of RM50 million, with 3,599 tonnes and 5,241 tonnes of frozen and pulp and paste durians being exported, respectively.
The ministry was responding to a question by politician Sim Tze Tzin who asked about Malaysia’s durian trade performance, and other markets Malaysia is looking into. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
