The stinking, spiny durian is ready to develop into Malaysia’s next top export because the Southeast Asian nation rushes to develop hundreds of acres to money in on unprecedented demand for the fruit from China.
Planted in family orchards and small farms, durian, described by some as smelling of open sewage or turpentine when ripe, is attracting investment like never before. Even real estate tycoons and firms dealing in palm oil, Malaysia’s largest agricultural export, are entering the durian market.
The Malaysian government encourages large-scale durian cultivation, hoping for a 50 percent increase in exports by 2030.
“The durian industry is transforming from local to large-scale global agriculture due to strong demand from China,” said Lim Chin Khee, a durian industry consultant. “Before the boom, a durian farm in Malaysia would have been a recreational farm… Now they have hundreds of acres and more, and there will be many more.”
Durian could also be banned from some airports, public transport and hotels in Southeast Asia resulting from its pungent smell, however the Chinese are big fans. Durian-flavored products sold in China include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk.
I believe those that hate durian are afraid of its smell. But I believe once you are trying it, their opinion will change
“I also hated durians at first because I assumed that they had a wierd smell,” said Helen Li, 26, while eating at a store specializing in durian pizza in Shanghai, where almost every customer ordered the dish for 60 yuan (PLN 8.65). USD) during a meal, recent peak at lunch. “But when you try it, it’s really delicious. I think those who hate durian are afraid of its smell. But I think once you try it, their opinion will change.
At another Shanghai restaurant selling chicken durian hotpot – a type of sizzling broth – for about 148 yuan ($21), owner Chen Weihao said the shop could sell about 20 to 25 kilograms of imported Thai durian per month.
“When you taste it, it tastes fresh and sweet, as if you have arrived in the tropics,” said 27-year-old customer Yang Yang.
The Chinese pay top prices for the Malaysian ‘Musang King’ durian variety due to its creamy texture and bittersweet taste. Prices of this variety, now grown throughout the country, have almost quadrupled over the past five years.
China’s durian imports rose 15 percent last 12 months to almost 350,000 tons value $510 million, in keeping with a U.N. trade database. Nearly 40 percent got here from Thailand, the world’s largest producer and exporter.
Malaysia accounted for lower than 1 percent, but sales to China are expected to rise to 22,061 tonnes by 2030 from a probable 14,600 tonnes this 12 months as trade expands to whole fruit amid the present restriction on durian pulp and paste.
Indonesian flight grounded after passenger insurrection over bags of stinking durian within the cargo hold
Indonesian flight grounded after passenger insurrection over bags of stinking durian within the cargo hold
Consultant Lim said he was approached by palm oil giant IOI Corp and resort real estate conglomerate Berjaya Corp about venturing into durian farming.
IOI didn’t reply to inquiries, but a source with direct knowledge of the matter said the corporate intended to plant durian on a small scale.
Berjaya, which is headed by certainly one of Malaysia’s richest businessmen, Vincent Tan, didn’t reply to a request for comment.
State palm oil producer Felda said the agriculture ministry had began planting durian on its land this 12 months. PLS Plantations, a palm plantation construction company headed by real estate tycoon Lim Kang Hoo, said last month it might buy a stake within the durian exporter for $5 million.
M7 Plantation Bhd, a personal company established last 12 months, is developing a ten,000-acre durian estate in Gua Musang, the seat of the Musang king within the eastern state of Kelantan, and selling durian trees for five,000 ringgit ($1,200) each.
“We started the company because we see potential in the industry and our main target is China,” said CEO Ng Lee Chin, adding that the majority of its buyers were from China.
Panic because the pungent smell of durian was mistaken for a gas leak at an Australian library
Panic because the pungent smell of durian was mistaken for a gas leak at an Australian library
“Planting durians is not just a hobby these days, as durians are considered ‘gold’ in the agricultural industry,” the agriculture department said in an email.
Malaysian durian plantations covered 72,000 hectares last 12 months, however the department said the realm under cultivation was growing and in some areas palm oil plantations were switching to durian because it is seen as more lucrative.
In March, Malaysia’s then agriculture minister was quoted as saying that one hectare of Musang King could bring almost nine times more income than a hectare of palm plantations.
In Sabah state, a part of the land for durian cultivation will come from the conversion of palm estates, the agriculture ministry said, adding that it plans to expand to greater than 5,000 hectares.
However, the expansion of durian cultivation has raised concerns that it could take an environmentally destructive path just like that of palm oil.
The palm oil industry has been blamed for large-scale deforestation and the destruction of species-rich rainforests in Malaysia.
Local newspaper The Star reported last month that about 1,200 hectares of land near a forest reserve in Pahang state that’s home to the critically endangered Malayan tiger can be razed for Musang King plantations. Pahang officials didn’t reply to a request for comment.
“The durian boom will soon overtake the palm oil market,” said Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil, president of environmental NGO Peka Malaysia.
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: Durian is rushing to satisfy Chinese demand
