MALAYSIAN PREMIUM DURIAN - THE REVIEW

DURIAN (Durio zibethinus) is the most popular fruit grown in Malaysia due its return and marketing. There are 85,388 hectare durian grown in Malaysia and producing for 459,747 metric tons in 2022 (Source: Booklet Keluasan Tanaman Makanan, Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia, 2022). Talk about an overview of Malaysian Durian Production, Export, and Price Fresh Durian from various sources relate to durian industry in Malaysia interesting. In the past 5 years reported that the harvest area for durian in Malaysia has been growing as durian is one of the most profitable fruits for farmers and exporters. The Malaysian Musang King durian has one of the highest Brix levels out of all durian varieties with a Brix level between 39 and 44. From my observation that the Malaysian durian industry also receives a lot of support from the government. For example, for many years the government through Department of Agriculture (DOA) and FAMA helps market Malaysian durians across the world and educates farmers on production techniques, as durian is a difficult fruit to grow. In addition, from my observation that the government also subsidizes farming lands for durian. Department of Agriculture releases millions ringgit each year for new durian planting incentives. But the most active local farmers mostly mooted by their own capital to grow commercial durian farm. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" January 2023 new year I would like to discuss on durian status review.

As reported that of the several varieties of durian produced and exported in Malaysia in which the Musang King variety (D197) is the most popular variety. Around 65% - 70% of Musang King variety is produced in the states call Pahang, located in central Malaysia in which I served for 2 years there as the DOA State Agriculture Director. The area is hilly and mountainous and has moderate weather due to the high altitude. The hilly landscape allows the durian trees in this region to absorb less water because less water is stored in the soil as water runs off the hill when it rains. This allows durians grown in this region to be less watery and have firmer, stickier textures. During those years in 2018 as I remember that the Musang King production volume was between 18,000 - 25,000 tons and the production is expected to increase by 15%% in 2019. According to report by Pahang State Department of Agriculture that the production volume is expected to reach 40K-50K tons in the next five years. Talk on competition and Price about Musang King variety is very popular for both domestically and internationally. Firstly, compared to other varieties such as Dalit or Black Thorn reported that the Musang King variety has a longer shelf-life of 8 days in which is approximately 2 days longer than other varieties. Secondly, the quality and taste of the Musang King variety are more consistent compared to other varieties. For me this variety is less prone to damages from weather conditions. Thirdly, the variety has smaller seeds than other varieties so there is more flesh available for consumption.

In other scenario as I study in which the biggest competition for Malaysian durians comes from Thailand. In the global market reported that Thai durians are priced lower than the Malaysian durian and have longer shelf lives. It because Thai producers control the ripeness of their exported durians. Whereas Malaysian producers only harvest 100% ripe durians that have fallen from the trees. The Thai producers harvest durians before they are fully ripened to increase their shelf lives. According to FAMA in practice that the Malaysian producers can also harvest their durian at lower ripeness to increase the shelf life. However, harvesting the durians early compromises their quality and the Brix level does not reach its maximum potential. As a result, the Malaysian Musang King variety is creamier and sweeter than the Thai Monthong durian are the main exported variety by Thailand (See photo above). The Brix level for the Musang King variety is between 39 and 44 whereas the Brix level for Monthong variety is only between 26 and 28. The price of Malaysian Musang King durian is higher than Thai Monthong durian. During the peak season between July and August each in which the FOB price is around 6 USD per kg and the price goes up as the supply goes down. Currently from my observation the Malaysian durian supply is low and as a result, the FOB price is 21.5 USD per kg. As durian production in Malaysia is expected to increase at a rapid rate over the next few years in which the prices are also expected to decline in the future.

Premium durian varieties are a fresh commodity for domestic and export market. Currently that Malaysia is the 3rd largest durian exporting country in the world, following Thailand. In recent years Malaysia exported around 23.4K tons of durians valued at around 30 million USD. Out of that 90% of the total export volume of Malaysian fresh durians goes to Singapore. Although durian is mainly consumed in Asian countries, but study found that the demand for durian is growing in the West due to an increasing number of Asian immigrants in countries such as the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. China is the largest market for durian in the world. In 2018 reported that China imported around 1.1 billion USD worth of durians, representing 60% of the global import value and increased every year. In early years unfortunately Malaysia cannot export fresh durians to China until starting May 30th, 2019, that the Chinese government granted permission to Malaysian exporters to export frozen durians to China. The opening of the Chinese market presents opportunities for Malaysian durian exporters. In initial stage of 2019, reported that 65% of the company’s durian exports will be frozen. Besides frozen whole durians few companies also export frozen durian pulp and paste. Durian industry in Malaysia is the most popular activities in which many oil palm tree changed to durian plantation in recent years. Hope for brighter future in premium durian production in the future. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(January 2023).