Vast and eager market for durians in China, says Mohamad Sabu

Tourists from China checking out the durians on display at the stall belonging to trader Peter Tan, 45, near Lebuh Armenian. ( April 18, 2024 ) — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is focussing on China to export fresh durians because there is a vast market and interest there for the king of fruits, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

Imagine if 10% of their (China) citizens are eating durians, no matter how much durian we harvest here, it won’t be enough for our trade with them,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 1).

Mohamad Sabu also said other countries have not shown as much interest in durians as China.

“The Arab countries haven't started eating durians and what's more, they can’t even stand the smell.

“In Europe, there are a small number of people who eat durians, but in general, they are not really interested.

“The Chinese eat durians in huge numbers. They have many citizens who can afford to spend. That is why, when durians are sent to other (countries), there is interest but not as much as in China,” he told Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian).

Tuan Ibrahim wanted to know if there were plans to export the fruit to other countries to ensure that Malaysia is not at risk of being affected by the ongoing global trade war.

On a related note, Mohamad said fresh durian exports to China are expected to start in the third quarter of the year.

He said farms and durian packing facilities must be registered with the Agriculture Department, adhere to the Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) scheme and obtain approval from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

“The ministry expects the approval of registration with the GACC to take two to three months," he added.

Last month, Malaysia and China exchanged 14 MoUs, among them being an agreement covering phytosanitary (plant health) requirements for exporting fresh durians to China.

The bilateral agreement will allow Malaysia, which is one of the world’s largest producers of durian, to join its neighbors Thailand and Vietnam in exporting fresh fruits to the Chinese market.

Mohamad previously said Malaysia’s durian exports from 2018 to 2002 had seen a 256.3% or RM822.2mil increase.

Durian exports are expected to increase to RM1.8bil by 2030.