Malaysian durian growers are confronting significant challenges due to climate change, which is increasing production costs and impacting crop yields, even as the fruit's popularity and demand, particularly in China, continue to soar.
Stephen Chow, a durian orchard owner in Karak, Malaysia, described his efforts to maintain harvests, including working at night with headlamps to collect ripe fruit. Despite these efforts, Chow anticipates a financial loss this year. Premium Malaysian varieties like Musang King and Black Thorn are highly sought after by Chinese consumers, but growers are struggling with the escalating costs associated with producing quality fruit.
Extreme weather events have repeatedly affected Chow's orchard. In 2021, heavy rainfall caused flooding that damaged trees and machinery. In the subsequent three years, persistent rain during the crucial flowering season led to pollination failures, reducing his yield. More recently, high afternoon temperatures between February and April, coupled with rain primarily at night, favored flowering. Chow adapted by increasing watering and fertilization due to the heat, but a rise in fuel and fertilizer prices, partly attributed to the war in Iran, increased these operational expenses.
An oversupply of durians in Malaysia, driven by hot, dry weather and more orchards reaching maturity, has also depressed prices. Grade A Musang King durians from Chow's orchard were selling for about half the price of the previous year and one-third of the peak 2024 price.
Durian Market and Climate Impacts
Malaysia's durian cultivation has expanded significantly, covering 92,100 hectares (227,600 acres) in 2024, a nearly 40% increase since 2016. Production grew by almost 90% to 568,800 tonnes during the same period. This growth was bolstered by China's decision to begin importing whole frozen Malaysian durians in 2019, followed by fresh durians in 2024, as part of an expansion of what is termed "durian diplomacy."
China is the dominant force in the global durian export market, procuring about 95% of exports between 2020 and 2022, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2025, China imported 1.87 million tonnes of fresh durians valued at $7.5 billion, a sixfold increase in volume over the past decade.
While Malaysia's exports to China lag behind those of Thailand and Vietnam, the Malaysian industry emphasizes its higher quality, noting that growers typically wait for fruit to ripen naturally on the tree. However, rising global temperatures are leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events worldwide.
Peninsular Malaysia has experienced a notable increase in average temperatures, rising by 0.24 degrees Celsius per decade from 1969 to 2025, according to the country's meteorological department. Ooi Teik Hock, an orchard owner in Perak state, relocated his farm to the highlands about a decade ago in search of cooler nights and higher humidity, recalling fewer quality issues when temperatures were lower. Global warming also contributes to the proliferation of pests, forcing Ooi to increase pesticide use, which has seen a 30% price hike in three years. He also noted the absence of fruit bats, a key pollinator, during this year's flowering season, potentially linked to extreme heat or pesticide use.
Lim Chin Khee, an advisor to the Durian Academy, highlighted that weather changes affect fruit quality, particularly for the weather-sensitive Musang King variety. Excessive rain during rapid development can cause discoloration, while water shortages can lead to black spots on the flesh. With forecasts of El Nino potentially bringing record high temperatures, Lim advised farmers to prepare by expanding water reservoirs or installing backup tube wells.
Some growers are adopting technological solutions. Kie Kim Hwa, who manages an orchard on Penang Island, has installed sensors to monitor rainfall, humidity, and wind speed, utilizing cloud data to track conditions and intervene early to manage fruit quality and quantity. He acknowledged the critical role of weather, stating, "We live and die by the weather. But we can still prepare."