Durian prices drop after abundant season sees market flooded by king of fruits

Abundant yields, and a prolonged season for the so-called “king of fruits” has resulted in durian prices falling sharply.

While not quite reaching the levels of a burst speculative tulip bubble, just last year, all of Southeast Asia seemed to be in the grips of durian–mania.

Not enough could be grown to sate both stomachs at home, and the hunger for more abroad. Chinese consumers especially seemed to take to the king of fruits with particular gusto, enthusiastically importing durian flavored coffees and ice cream. Chinese investors were even staking a claim to the soils that bore the fruit, and began pumping money into local durian farms.

However, durian hawkers are now beginning to feel the pinch of a flooded market, after local sales dropped during Ramadan, in May of this year.

The Star reports that a stall on Macalister Road in Penang was now selling the fruit in containers for only RM10 (US$2.50), mostly the D11, D604, Xiao Hong, Ang Bak Kia and Hor-Lor variety.

Last year, the same varieties were being sold in the RM25 to RM28 (US$6.75 to US$7) range.

A local trader reported that the teeming supply meant that vendors were lowering their prices, adding that she expected to lower her prices even further as the season went on, and even more fruit entered the market.

Durian season is expected to sun until September this year. While prices overall are dropping, don’t get too excited durian lovers: the extra creamy Musang King variety still costs up to RM100/kg.