Malaysia eyes over $350M in durian exports this year

Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, the country's minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said durian exports had increased by 256.3% in five years, from RM321.2 million in 2018 to RM1.14 billion in 2022.

The increase proves the great potential of durian as a high-value agro-food commodity that not only provides great returns to the country, but also opens up economic opportunities for the people at various levels, he said.

He said efforts to promote durian through festivals and programs were deemed important to stimulate the growth of the high-value agricultural sector and create a value chain involving farmers, logistics, retailers, processing industries and tourism.

Mohamad said that according to a 2024 report by research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global durian market is expected to be worth more than US$10.78 billion in 2025 and $16.89 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.4%.

China is the main driver of this growth, accounting for more than 90% of durian imports in the Asia Pacific and serving as a key strategic market for Malaysian exporters.