Malaysia pursues road and rail routes for fresh durian exports to China
Proposed overland shipments would take three to four days, offering an alternative to costly air freight and slower sea transport.
Malaysia is intensifying talks with regional governments over transit arrangements for fresh durian exports to China, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu told the Dewan Rakyat on October 20. The proposed road and rail shipments are expected to take three to four days.
Mohamad said formal discussions on transit rights had started on July 20. His ministry is coordinating with the Foreign Ministry and Transport Ministry on cross-border routes involving Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
The initiative seeks to make deliveries more efficient and less costly, he said. Air freight is expensive, while shipping by sea takes substantially longer, prompting the government to pursue an overland alternative.
Responding to a supplementary question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), Mohamad said Malaysian durians were popular with Chinese consumers, but buyers sometimes struggled to find them at more affordable prices. He said the planned routes would help the fruit reach China quickly.
