Malaysia’s durian boom turns to glut, prompting branding, tech and waste innovations
Malaysia’s durian sector faces a supply glut and falling prices, pushing growers to seek value through branding, technology and waste-to-product initiatives.
A surge of new orchards planted between 2015 and 2020 has created a surplus that collapsed Musang King prices from RM50 to roughly RM20-30 per kilogram, while export revenue to China jumped from US$5 million in 2024 to US$77 million in early 2026. Because Malaysian fruit must be fully ripened before shipping, it cannot compete on volume with Thailand and Vietnam, intensifying domestic oversupply. Industry players such as Dooran Dooran are building brands, offering farm tours and using drones for spray, while Edison Ang opened the Kuala Lumpur Durian Experience Centre to showcase premium fruit year-round.
Researchers like Tan Khang Wei are turning discarded husks into nanocellulose for high-value products. Analysts say the sector must shift from quantity to quality, logistics and processing to survive the downturn.
