PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia’s durian exporters eye a potentially huge market in China on the heels of a “Durian King Festival” scheduled in Nanning city from Nov 3 to 5, traders in Thailand and Singapore are worried about the impact it would have on their businesses.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported today of concern in Singapore that prices of the fruit would be pushed up if China allows Malaysia to start sending durian shipments through its borders.
It said retailers in the island republic would be forced to compete with wealthy Chinese buyers for the supply.
Citing United Nations (UN) statistics, it said Singapore had last year imported 17,847 tonnes of durian, of which 93% was from Malaysia.
It quoted Marc Ashley, whose Yu Lian durian stall in Singapore sells only fruit from Thailand, as saying that discerning Singaporean durian aficionados would likely feel the impact.
“What I think is going to happen is second grade (Malaysian) durians will be sold in Singapore,” he was quoted as saying.
“The better ones will go to China, because the market is larger and more lucrative.”
It also quoted Steven Shui, owner of the Ah Seng durian stall in Singapore, as saying that if the prices hiked up too high the local traders would still have to sell.
“At the end of the day, it’s about how much people are willing to pay, what is their price ceiling,” he said.
The SCMP report added that Thailand, which is now the world’s top durian producing nation, fears that Malaysia’s move to penetrate the Chinese market could spell the end of its current virtual monopoly there.
On Oct 10, Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) chairman Badruddin Amiruldin had announced that some 5,000 kg of frozen durian would be exported to Guangxi province, China, in conjunction with the durian festival backed by the Malaysia government in the provincial capital of Nanning.
He said the delivery of the fruit in the frozen form was the first attempt to meet the high demand there because previously the Chinese government only allowed the shipment of durian pulp.
“This time we are sending frozen Musang King durian fruit (D197), to see how the response is compared to the durian pulp,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
“Even local fruits such as jackfruit and pineapple will be promoted at the festival.
“The export value of durian is rising, last year it was worth RM74 million and this year it rose to more than RM100 million. We are aiming that next year the export value reaches RM150 million,” he added.
According to SCMP, Beijing has granted a one-off approval for Malaysia to ship in four tonnes of fresh durian to the festival in the capital city of Guangxi province.
FMT
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