Pre-CIIE: China's imports of fruits to grow with big appetite for durians, coconuts
Malaysian fresh durians , which have witnessed an export boom since last year, are still in high demand ahead of the peak season in August, according to Guo Min, deputy marketing director with distributor Joy Wing Mau's China operations.
'The growth trajectory remains robust and we foresee surging demand [for the fruit] next month,' he said in an interview, adding that Malaysian durians were the most sought-after by consumers among imported fruits. 'We have got the logistics and warehousing arrangements ready to better serve the market.'
Malaysia started exporting fresh durians to China last year, shipping 24.8 million ringgit (US$5.9 million) worth of them between August and December, according to data from Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. In the first four months this year, Malaysia's share of the durian market in China had grown tenfold, Guo added.
Thailand held a 57 per cent share of China's US$6.99 billion durian market in 2024, Chinese customs data showed.
A shop selling durians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The native Southeast Asian fruit is renowned for its unique and strong flavour. Photo: AFP
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