Malaysian durian growers are expected to expand their market share in China this year, buoyed by local consumers’ growing appetite for fresh, naturally ripened fruit. The Southeast Asian nation’s durian exports to China have surged this year as a result of a steady supply and improved logistics, food processors and traders said on Friday. “Fresh durians, which are transported to China by air within 48 hours of pickup, are well-received by affluent Chinese consumers,” said Guo Min, deputy marketing director with fresh fruit distributor Joy Wing Mau’s China operations. “Our Malaysian suppliers are able to increase exports of the fruit by 30 per cent this year, which has largely boosted our confidence in propelling sales here.” Vivian Wang, marketing director at Dole Asia Holdings, echoed the sentiment. “Fresh durians were among the fastest-growing fruits imported to China,” she said. “It creates big opportunities for growers in Malaysia.” Unlike Thailand and Vietnam, where pre-cutting methods are common, Malaysian durians are typically allowed to ripen naturally on the tree before they fall and are collected by farmers. Guo and Wang both said Malaysia’s share of China’s durian market had grown tenfold from last year, but did not provide a specific figure. They made the remarks on the sidelines of a matchmaking meeting between international suppliers of food and agricultural produce and Chinese traders in Shanghai, which was organised by the China International Import Expo (CIIE) Bureau, a unit of the Ministry of Commerce. Their bullish forecast came after Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first visit to Malaysia in over a decade on Thursday, as Beijing positioned itself as Southeast Asia’s dependable trading partner amid escalating tariff threats from the US President Donald Trump’s administration. Malaysia began exporting fresh durians to China last year, shipping 24.8 million ringgit (US$5.6 million) worth of the fruit to its largest trading partner between August and December, according to data from Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Thailand dominated durian sales in China last year, holding 57 per cent of the US$6.99 billion market, Chinese customs data showed. Vietnam was the second-largest supplier, making up 38 per cent of the market, trailed by the Philippines and Malaysia, which together contributed US$38.2 million in sales. “We do see a stable growth in China’s food and fruit market,” said Jiang Jianli, logistics division director of Goodfarmer Fresh Fruit Trading, which deals with fruit exports from the Philippines to China. “High-quality imported fruits that are good for people’s health are still in high demand, giving us opportunities to pursue further growth.” The CIIE, an annual event launched in 2018, is considered by many foreign businesses as a prime marketing opportunity, as Beijing encourages local companies to purchase foreign-made goods as a way of showing China’s commitment to free trade and expanding access to its market. In 2024, purchase agreements worth US$80 billion were signed during the six-day show, up 2 per cent from the previous year. Deals involving food and agricultural products have been a bright spot of the expo, reflecting growing consumer awareness in China of food security and nutrition. As of Friday, more than 800 international companies from about 70 countries had registered for this year’s event, according to the event organisers.