Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia is negotiating with Thailand to establish an overland route for transporting durians to China as it seeks to address a domestic oversupply and expand its share in the world's largest durian consumption market.
Thai media reported that Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu said he had raised the proposal with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, and was also coordinating with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
Under the proposed plan, durians would be transported by rail and truck from Malaysia through Thailand before entering China. Malaysian authorities believe the overland route would shorten delivery times, reduce logistics costs and enhance the price competitiveness of Malaysian durians in the Chinese market.
Malaysia and Thailand are currently working with Chinese authorities to put the plan into operation as soon as possible.
Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's leading durian producers, with major growing areas in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Pahang. However, a domestic glut has driven farm-gate prices down sharply, from around 15 MYR (3.69 USD) per kilogramme to just 1 MYR, according to Malaysian media.
To help address the oversupply, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to ask China to increase imports of Malaysian durians during talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing next month.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation aims to increase fresh durian exports to China to 229 million USD by 2030, up from about 5 million USD in 2025.
Thailand, meanwhile, remains China's largest supplier of durians, with exports reaching about 150 billion THB in 2025, according to the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives./.
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