Malaysia’s Musang King output begins to fall; Singapore traders expect prices to rise 20%–30%

(Singapore, Jan 2) As the December durian season enters its latter half, Musang King durians from Malaysia are beginning to see a decline in supply. Singapore businesses interviewed said output is expected to drop more noticeably in the next one to two weeks, and prices could rise by around 20% to 30%.

8world News reported that Mr Xie, owner of Sam Fruit Shop in Clementi, noted that Musang King supply surged last month but has started to taper off this week, while supply for other varieties remains broadly in line with previous years. Although wholesale prices have shifted slightly, retail prices at his shop have not changed for now, with Grade A Musang King still selling at about S$18 per kg (around RM57).

Mr Huang Jingxing, who runs the Lele durian stall at Kim Moh Market, also observed that Musang King supply is lower than last month and that procurement costs have already increased. However, he said the short-term impact is limited because his Musang King comes from a fixed orchard.

Meanwhile, Cai Mingyou from Dingfeng Durian Station said the season has entered the “second half,” and current supply may last for a little over 10 days—around Jan 10—after which output could fall by about 30%, prompting price adjustments.

Zhang Shiyong, head of Durian 36, estimated that Musang King output will decline more significantly from around Jan 15 by roughly 15% to 20%, with prices potentially climbing 20% to 30%. At present, Grade A Musang King is sold at S$18 per kg, but may rise to S$22 per kg (about RM69.70), while Grade B could move from about S$10 per kg to S$15 per kg (about RM47.50).

Most traders said retail prices are currently unchanged from last month despite early signs of reduced supply, but prices may be revised as output drops further around mid-January.