Malaysia durian price crash: Musang King, Black Thorn, D24 fall to as low as $2.4 per kilogram

The decline was first observed in Musang King durians, before spreading to other premium varieties days later.

Mohd Azmi Osman, a 40-year-old trader in Pahang, told the New Straits Times that the slump was triggered by overlapping harvests in the state’s Raub district and Johor’s Segamat district last month. Pahang and Johor are both major durian-producing states in Malaysia.

The average price for Musang King at some orchards in Pahang has even plunged to below RM10 per kg. The fruit had, at its peak, fetched as much as RM80 per kg.

Consumers rejoice

With supply surging and prices tumbling at orchards, traders have begun rolling out various promotions to move durians.

A vendor in Selangor state’s Petaling Jaya, for instance, sparked a buying rush with their all-you-can-pack deal, which allows customers to fill a large plastic bag with Musang King durians for RM133, as reported by The Rakyat Post.

That works out to just RM8.87 per kg, or roughly 12–15% of the fruit’s previous price.

This picture taken on July 8, 2020 shows durians displayed for sale in Kuala Lumpur. Photo by AFP

In southern Sarawak, trader Akmal Hakim Saidan, 29, and his siblings have a similar "happy hour" deal that offers durians by the bag for just RM25, equivalent to about RM1 per fruit.

"We receive about six to 10 truckloads a day, translating to roughly 12,000 kampung durians daily," he told national news agency Bernama, noting that the peak period will run until next month.

Vendors in Pahang have also been selling Baby Musang King at RM15 per kg, IOI durians at RM22 and Durian Kahwin at RM14 on social media.

The deep discounts have attracted large crowds of fans looking to indulge in the stinky fruit.

Sisters Atikah Morni, 26, and Kamariah Morni, 21, said they visited Akmal’s shop and bought durians at RM3 and RM8.

"During durian season, we come here every year because the prices are very low and reasonable," Atikah said.

Meanwhile, Charles Chua, 44, who recently visited Sarawak with his future in-laws, said he purchased three durians for RM24.

"It is cheap and truly worth it. Sarawak durians are really good, so I am happy to support local produce."

Farmers feel the squeeze

The price crash has taken large wholesalers and farmers by surprise, with the latter group describing the situation as a durian "tsunami."

Owners of newly established plantations, many of whom are entering their first harvest season, have been hit particularly hard.

Several growers have reportedly bypassed middlemen altogether, opting to sell directly to consumers at orchard fronts to keep their business afloat.

Durians are seen at a durian orchard in Raub, Malaysia, Nov. 21, 2021. Photo by Xinhua via AFP

Muhamad Noriman Haikal Mohd Nazri, 25, owner of Che Tat Durian Segamat in Johor, noted that caring for a single Musang King tree costs roughly RM600 annually, including fertilizer, pesticides, water, labor and upkeep.

Lim Kim Chooi, 62, said: "With farm workers' wages and other costs, the price cannot fall below RM20 per kg, or we will suffer losses."

Sam Tan, president of the Malaysia Durian Exporters Association, told Sin Chew Daily that demand from China, the world’s largest durian consumer, has also weakened amid an economic slowdown.

RM35-40 per kg for Musang King is a more acceptable rate, he said, noting that prices are unlikely to return to their peak a decade ago as total growing area has increased by five times since then.

What was once a seasonal fruit available mainly in June and July can now be found through February or March of the next year, he explained.

"When you see something every day, you lose the intense desire for it."