KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can now export fresh durians to China following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
Malaysia was given market access to China for durian paste or pulp in 2011, while market access for frozen durians was granted in 2018.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said the MoU would further encourage the growth of the domestic durian industry and create opportunities for more than 63,000 durian entrepreneurs nationwide.
"This will increase the value of agri-food exports. Through this phytosanitary protocol, registered durian entrepreneurs who receive approval from the General Administration of Customs China are allowed to export fresh durians to China," the ministry said in a statement today.
The MoU was one of the 14 deals inked earlier today, witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The ministry added that Malaysia's durian exports worldwide recorded a value of RM1.14 billion in 2022.
It said China was the primary export market for Malaysian durians, with an export value of RM887 million in 2022.
"Overall, durian was also the main contributor (58.6 per cent) to the country's fruit export value in 2022, out of the total fruit export value of RM2.01 billion.
"The durian export value is projected to rise to RM1.8 billion by 2030.
"Over the five years from 2018 to 2022, the total export value of durians grew by 256.3 per cent, an increase of RM822.8 million." it said.