Malaysia seeks land routes through regional neighbours for durian exports to China
Shipments could take three to four days, but Malaysia faces negotiations with countries competing for the same Chinese market.
Malaysia is negotiating transit arrangements with Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to move fresh durians overland to China, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said. Discussions have been under way since July 20.
Mohamad told parliament that his ministry was working with the Foreign and Transport ministries on the negotiations, Bernama reported. Land transport could bring delivery times to three to four days, offering a potentially more efficient option than expensive air shipments or slower sea journeys.
The minister said Chinese consumers sometimes struggled to buy Malaysian durians at more affordable prices. He acknowledged that securing transit arrangements could be difficult because the countries involved also sell durians to China, but said Malaysia would continue negotiations, the New Straits Times reported.
China imported around 1.07 million tonnes of durians during the first half of 2026, compared with 708,000 tonnes a year earlier, according to the South China Morning Post. Thailand supplied US$3.79 billion worth, representing 81% of the market by value. Vietnam followed with US$846 million and an 18% share.
Malaysian shipments to China were worth US$30.26 million over the same period, a rise of 342%, although its market share remained small. Cambodia made its first durian shipment to China last July, while Laos has obtained permission to supply fresh durians to the Chinese market.
