Malaysia in talks with Thailand, China on land route for durian exports

Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said a land route would also enable Malaysian durians to reach smaller Chinese cities, with each city estimated to have around two million residents. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is in talks with the Thai government and China’s customs authorities to establish a land route for exporting local durians to China, a move expected to reduce logistics costs and expand market access in the country.

Mohamad Sabu.

Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said discussions with the Thai government and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) are part of efforts to help durian growers cope with the current seasonal glut, Bernama reported.

“The Thai agriculture minister (Suriya Juangroongruangkit) has met me, and we will discuss how to facilitate exports to China via land and rail routes.

“We are currently in intensive discussions with Thailand and GACC,” he was quoted as saying after meeting residents in Masai Lama with Pakatan Harapan’s Permas candidate, Sharon Teo.

Mohamad said transporting durians by land would be more cost-efficient than via air freight.

He added that the proposed route would also enable Malaysian durians to reach smaller Chinese cities, with each city estimated to have around two million residents.

Mohamad also said the simultaneous durian season in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Pahang had increased supply and pushed down farm-gate prices, although consumers were benefitting from lower prices for premium varieties such as Musang King and Black Thorn.

On Johor’s agricultural sector, he said the state remains one of the country’s leading producers of pineapples, fruits and vegetables.

He said the ministry’s pineapple industry development campaign had doubled production over the past three years while attracting more young people into farming.