Malaysian Durian Glut: Prices Plunge, 3 Tonnes Sell Out in Minutes

A glut of durian in Malaysia, caused by a bumper harvest and a surplus of export rejects, has led to a nationwide price collapse. In Kampung Bukit Tunggal, one vendor's promotional sale saw 3,000 kilograms of the fruit, priced at just RM1 (US$0.24) per kilogram, sell out in five minutes on Saturday.

The vendor, 27-year-old Muhammad Izhar Ibrahim of Kedai Durian Maiz, told Malaysia's The Star he launched the promotion last week to make the fruit affordable for lower-income and large families. He typically sells over a tonne of durian daily, with some individual fruits starting at RM1 each. Ibrahim stated that while the low-priced durians are smaller, their flesh is good quality, leading to repeat customers who begin queuing as early as 8 a.m. His stall offers several varieties, including kampung, IOI, Udang Merah, D24, and Musang King.

The discounted fruit is sourced from the states of Pahang and Johor, where Ibrahim noted that production currently exceeds demand. He added that this year's harvest has been particularly strong in Perak, Johor, and Pahang, while supplies from the state of Terengganu remain limited.

This market phenomenon, widely dubbed the "durian tsunami," has seen prices for the prized Musang King variety fall to as low as RM9 per kilogram, with some premium-quality fruit dropping by as much as 90%, according to AFP. The supply surplus is expected to persist through the harvest season, with consumers likely to benefit from lower prices until August.

In response to the oversupply, Malaysia's Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority has intervened by introducing a floor price. The authority set a minimum of RM2.70 per kilogram for kampung durians purchased from growers under forward purchase agreements with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.