Malaysians are flocking to roadside stalls and fruit shops, eagerly consuming durians after the so-called "Durian Tsunami" flooded the market and caused exports to be rejected, plunging prices by over 90%. Premium varieties like "Musang King" have fallen to around 70 baht per kilogram, while local durians are being sold cheaply at just 4 baht per fruit.
A nationwide phenomenon has emerged in Malaysia, as large crowds head to fruit stalls and roadside tents around Kuala Lumpur to buy durians enthusiastically. The fruit, known as the king of fruits, is experiencing a rapid price collapse due to production exceeding demand and some export-grade fruit being rejected. This has caused a severe domestic oversupply.
Local media and AFP report that the durian price crash is dubbed the "Durian Tsunami." It has led to price drops of up to 90% for many premium varieties. Malaysia, a major durian producer in Southeast Asia with an annual output exceeding 550,000 tons, is currently in its peak production season.
Reports indicate that the popular premium "Musang King" variety, a key export to China, has seen prices tumble from about 90 ringgit (around 730 baht) per kilogram to just 6 to 9 ringgit (approximately 49 to 73 baht) per kilogram. Similarly, other premium varieties like "Black Thorn" have suffered steep declines. Retail prices at street stalls in the Segambut area show whole premium-grade Musang King and Black Thorn durians selling for under 25 ringgit (about 204 baht) each. Common varieties are sold in baskets of seven for only 100 ringgit (about 815 baht).
Even more startling, other varieties such as 101 and Red Prawn have dropped to just 2 ringgit (about 15 baht) per fruit, while local Kampung durians have hit their lowest prices in years at only 0.50 ringgit (about 4 baht) each. This unprecedented situation offers durian lovers an extraordinary opportunity.
To quickly offload stock and cut losses, many durian sellers have adopted aggressive marketing tactics. Some shops provide large plastic bags for customers to pick durians individually and pay per fruit, while others offer promotions where customers fill large burlap sacks tightly with durians for a fixed price of 100 ringgit (about 815 baht) per sack, attracting long queues of eager buyers.
Mr. Chia Kim Wai, manager of "DurianMan" in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, said, "This year’s durians are the cheapest we’ve ever seen. Now durians are easily accessible and affordable for ordinary people. The prices are similar to those of local durians in the past."
However, Mr. Chia acknowledged that many vendors are concerned as profits have sharply declined but they must continue selling because durians are perishable. Without quick sales, the fruit will spoil, causing even greater losses. Price cuts to recover capital are currently the only viable option.
Mr. Faisal Iswadi Ismail, Deputy Director of the Malaysian Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), told the media, "We had advance information from the industry that a 'Musang King Tsunami' would occur this year, and it has indeed happened. Nonetheless, we hope durian prices will recover and return to balance within the next few weeks."
Consumer surveys conducted at an agricultural event showed excitement and happiness over the price crisis. One Malaysian said, "Now Malaysians can enjoy durians at much cheaper prices, which truly makes us happy."
Experts state that the main cause of this phenomenon is the rapid expansion of durian cultivation areas in Malaysia over recent years, combined with tighter import restrictions in some export markets. This has resulted in a flood of durians returning to domestic markets, causing severe oversupply. While this situation pressures farmers with heavy burdens, for consumers, it is a golden opportunity to enjoy the king of fruits at historically affordable prices.
. . .AFP / The Straits Times