Durian duel: Malaysia to enter fray to export the spiky fruit to China, alongside Thailand, Vietnam

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian durian farmers and exporters may be in for a treat, as the government is poised to conclude negotiations with China to export the spiky fruit to the world’s second most populous country by the end of this year.

If things go according to plan, Malaysia will become the fourth country authorised to ship fresh durian to China, joining Thailand and Vietnam – and to a smaller extent, the Philippines – in the battle for a larger share of China’s multi-billion-dollar fresh durian market.

Industry insiders say that both governments are finalising talks, which involve securing regulatory approvals and addressing numerous technical details.