Pre-CIIE: China’s imports of fruits to grow with big appetite for durians, coconuts

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A shop selling durians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The native Southeast Asian fruit is renowned for its unique and strong flavour. Photo: AFP

Growers of durian and coconut in Southeast Asia are expecting a hectic time ahead as they grapple with rising demand from mainland Chinese buyers who prefer high-quality fresh fruits against the backdrop of a weak consumption market.

Malaysian fresh durians, which have witnessed an export boom since last year, are still in high demand ahead of the peak season in August, according to Guo Min, deputy marketing director with distributor Joy Wing Mau’s China operations.

“The growth trajectory remains robust and we foresee surging demand [for the fruit] next month,” he said in an interview, adding that Malaysian durians were the most sought-after by consumers among imported fruits. “We have got the logistics and warehousing arrangements ready to better serve the market.”

Malaysia started exporting fresh durians to China last year, shipping 24.8 million ringgit (US$5.9 million) worth of them between August and December, according to data from Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. In the first four months this year, Malaysia’s share of the durian market in China had grown tenfold, Guo added.

Thailand held a 57 per cent share of China’s US$6.99 billion durian market in 2024, Chinese customs data showed.

A shop selling durians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The native Southeast Asian fruit is renowned for its unique and strong flavour. Photo: AFP

Guo spoke on the sidelines of a “matchmaking meeting” between international suppliers and Chinese traders in Shanghai on Friday, organised by the China International Import Expo (CIIE) Bureau, a unit of the Ministry of Commerce, ahead of the annual trade show later this year.

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