Durian prices remain stable in Singapore despite 20% drop in supply

The decrease in supply was due to extreme weather delaying the harvest in Malaysia, the city-state’s top durian supplier, CNA reported.

The 227 Katong Durian store in Singapore has been receiving a wildly fluctuating inflow of the stinky fruit recently, with supply coming in droves some weeks. "Then out of a sudden, like today, [there is] 60% less in supply," the store owner said.

But prices of the stinky fruit have been stable so far. The local favorite Musang King variety, for example, is sold at around S$23-38 (US$17-28), the same level as last year.

Charlie Phua, business development director at supplier Durian Supply, said imports from Malaysia will still be ample as getting durians into the city-state is much easier than China. "One of the reasons why we will still import to Singapore is because on the logistical side, the issue of just having our trucks bring our durians from Malaysia to Singapore is so much easier."

Furthermore, they said that prices of the fruit are expected to decrease in August as the harvest in Malaysia hits full swing.

Last year, the city-state acquired around 85% of its durians from Malaysia and imported around 100,000 kilograms of the stinky fruit per day during the peak season, as reported by The Business Times.