Kampung durian is going for as little as RM1 per kilogramme in parts of the country right now, and even Musang King has dropped below RM30 per kg in some areas. The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) confirmed on 24 June that it is stepping in to buy up excess supply and protect small-scale durian farmers from further losses.

Malaysia’s durian season runs from June to August, and this year, almost every durian-growing state entered peak harvest at the same time. Good weather made things even better for the trees, pushing national production above the 600,000 tonnes recorded in 2024.

FAMA’s Plan To Absorb The Excess

FAMA is targeting direct purchases of 1,000 tonnes of durian worth RM7 million through its 42 operational centres nationwide. On top of that, FAMA-supported companies and entrepreneurs have already bought 1,199 tonnes worth RM3.28 million. 

The authority has also opened 90 fruit sales locations, mostly in Pahang, Perak, and Selangor, to help move the excess stock. If there are too many durians sitting around unsold, the government buys them so farmers are not forced to dump their harvest at a total loss.

The Guaranteed Minimum Price Covers Kampung Durian Only

FAMA currently guarantees a minimum price of RM2.70 per kg for kampung durian. That guarantee exists to protect small farmers who rely on durian income to get by. If prices at the farm gate fall below RM2.70, FAMA buys the fruit at that minimum instead.

Premium varieties like Musang King and Black Thorn are not covered by this guaranteed minimum, though. FAMA deputy director-general Faizal Iswardi Ismail confirmed this at a press conference on 24 June, saying the mechanism has not been extended to premium durians.

Musang King prices have taken a particularly sharp fall. The variety normally retails between RM45 and RM60 per kg depending on grade, but reports from Bentong show some sellers offering it for as low as RM5 per kg. Without a guaranteed minimum, there is nothing stopping Musang King prices from falling even further.

Several Factors Behind This Year’s Price Crash

New durian plantations that were established in recent years have started bearing fruit, adding more supply to the market. Younger orchards are now producing export-grade durian clones, but many of these do not meet the strict requirements for overseas markets like China and Singapore. That means more of this fruit gets redirected into the local market, pushing domestic prices down.

On top of the new supply, weather conditions were ideal for fruiting. Strong flowering and fruiting cycles across Pahang, Perak, Johor, and Penang resulted in a massive harvest. When you combine all of that with the fact that every major durian state peaked at roughly the same time, you get a sudden flood of supply that the market cannot absorb quickly enough.

Export Numbers Still Growing

Malaysia’s durian export numbers have not followed the same downward trend as domestic prices. China takes about 60% of the country’s durian exports, a trade worth RM1.5 billion a year and processed through 145 licensed centres.

FAMA International Market senior director Noorsham Ramly said durian exports reached 42,994 tonnes last year and are projected to hit 50,000 tonnes in 2026. To reduce dependence on a single market, FAMA is expanding exports to Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, and the Maldives, and working with 13 export management companies across 10 countries to find new buyers.

The agency is also studying two measures that could help local durians sell for more overseas. The first is an official origin label, similar to how Champagne can only come from a specific region in France. A label like this would certify that a durian genuinely comes from a particular area in Malaysia. The second is a QR code system that would let buyers scan a durian and verify exactly where it was grown and how it was graded.

Cheap Durian Now, But Prices Will Likely Recover

If you have been holding off on a durian feast, now is the time to go wild. Kampung durian at RM1 to RM4 per kg is well below what most seasons deliver, and Musang King at RM15 to RM30 per kg is down from the usual RM45 to RM60 range.

@ringgitplus

Musang King for only RM15/kg?? The market got flooded with durian, and we are absolutely not complaining. Go get your durian fix before prices go back up! #RinggitPlus #Durian #MusangKing #MalaysianFood #Malaysia

♬ original sound – RinggitPlus – RinggitPlus

That said, durian markets are cyclical. The current season runs until August, and once it ends, supply will tighten again. Prices are widely expected to recover after that. For small-scale farmers, the months from now until August are the difficult stretch, and whether FAMA’s guaranteed minimum of RM2.70 per kg is enough to cover their costs will depend on how long the oversupply lasts.

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