COULD durians be the ultimate bond-maker between Malaysia and China?

It is possible, as demand for the pungent, thorny fruit continues to surge, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub.

Apart from increasing exports of the fruit in its raw form, the government is also looking to sell a wider range of durian-based products to China.

“Some projects between Malaysia and China may need to be renegotiated, but we don’t have to renegotiate the fact that durian brings happiness,” Salahuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

“This ‘durian diplomacy’ may further strengthen the long relationship Malaysia and China have been enjoying.”

Chinese consumers continue to be enamoured by Malaysian durians, especially the musang king variety known for its thick flesh and bittersweet flavour, he said.

“Malaysia has been promoting the best-quality durians to China with the motto ‘Durian brings happiness’ because people don’t eat it alone.”

Some 1,000 tonnes of frozen whole durians are expected to be exported to China per month, contributing RM500 million to Malaysia’s total export value annually.

As of last year, the total area devoted to durian plantations in Malaysia stood at 72,464ha.

Top Fruits Sdn Bhd project manager Tan She Sian, who has farmed and exported durians for years, said plans are afoot to establish the Malaysian Durian Plantation Association.

He has gathered nine major players to be part of the group.

The durian-cultivation business has been gaining traction among investors over the past few years, he said.

“Many Chinese investors and local companies have invested in durian plantations in Sabah and Sarawak.”

Based on Tan’s estimation, the total area used for durian cultivation nationwide will more than triple within five years, covering some 40,000ha across Sabah and Sarawak.

However, the seasonal nature of the “king of fruits” is a challenge, prompting cultivators to find ways to ensure a steady supply.

Even palm oil players have switched to durian due to a drop in prices of the former and optimism that Chinese demand will lead to a continuous surge in the fruit’s prices.

The high planting cost – said to be around RM50 million for more than 404ha – has not deterred many large palm oil players from making the switch to durian.

Sabah-based grower Gan Hock Song said durian has become a pull for many Chinese tourists to the state.

At present, the varieties found in Sabah are from Penang and Thailand.

It is only recently that growers in the state have begun cultivating musang king, which takes several years to bear fruit.

Gan said many foreign investors have come to Sabah to invest in durians. However, the actual figure is not known. – June 24, 2019.