The “king of fruits” is now unusually cheap, with durians selling for as low as RM0.50 each in some areas, as a surge in supply sends prices tumbling across the board.
Oversupply pressure
A recent spike in durian production has led to a major oversupply in the market, forcing sellers to slash prices sharply in order to clear stock quickly.
Premium varieties have also been affected. Musang King is reportedly selling for around RM9 per kilogram, while other popular types such as 101 and Red Prawn have dropped to as low as RM2 per fruit. Regular durians are now available for just 50 sen each in some cases, marking one of the steepest price declines in recent years.
To attract buyers, vendors have introduced aggressive promotions, including “pick-and-pay” setups where customers select durians in bulk and are charged per fruit. Some sellers are even offering bulk deals, such as filling a gunny sack with durians for around RM100.
Why prices dropped
The price drop is largely linked to increased local cultivation in recent years, along with weaker demand from certain export markets due to tighter import conditions. The result has been a saturated market with more supply than buyers.
Because durians are highly perishable and cannot be stored for long, farmers and traders are under pressure to sell quickly or risk heavy losses from spoilage. This has triggered a widespread price cut across different varieties.
Vendors say the situation has created an urgent need to clear stock, with many lowering prices significantly to avoid having unsold fruit go to waste.
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