SINGAPORE - ’Tis the season for durians and you would have felt their conspicuous, declarative presence in your neighbourhood by now.

In recent days, the thorny treasures from Malaysia have been in abundance, and not just at the usual places.

At a pasar malam in Toa Payoh and two malls, you can find the prickly fruit in Play United’s bright pink claw machines vying for the attention of anyone who wants the thrill of clawing something other than plushies.

For $1 a pop, you can get a chance to grab a fruit.

Play United’s spokesman, Ms Alice Goh, told The Straits Times that her durian-loving team was able to introduce the novelty, thanks to more affordable durian prices.

Outside The One Salon in Bedok Central, piles of durians line the corridor under a banner that screams: Buy fruit get free haircut.

The hair salon’s boss, Mr Steven Qin, said he is giving away haircut vouchers to durian buyers who spend at least $20 at his makeshift stall. He hopes the promo will attract new customers to both his stall and salon. 

All-you-can-eat durian buffets are also catching on.

Supermarket chain Giant held its first durian buffet at the carpark of its Tampines outlet last week, which attracted a strong showing. A Giant spokesman said the chain plans to offer the one-hour buffet again.

Other durian stores such as Zeng Zu Fu and Lexus Durian King are also offering free-flow durian feasts. 

Falling prices

The pungent fruit would not have been here, there and everywhere if not for the bountiful supply from Malaysia’s farms this season, which started in May.

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Fruit Farmers’ Association (KLSFFA) told ST that Malaysia now exports more than 100,000kg of fresh durians to Singapore a day. 

The huge supply has sent prices down by 10 per cent to 20 per cent compared with last season, according to six durian stall owners who spoke to ST. 

In the not-so-distant past, durian lovers in Singapore used to pay close to a hundred dollars a fruit.

In June 2022, the AAA grade Musang King cost some $40 per kilogram, while the no-frills version cost around $25 per kilogram. By December 2022, the prices had fallen by more than 30 per cent with the supply glut.

Now, the B and C grade Musang King varieties retail at $10 or less a kilogram at some heartland stalls.

One stall is even offering a free-flow Musang King buffet at $38.80 an hour. 

Durian lovers in Singapore also tend to find durians more affordable this season with the favourable exchange rate, the KLSFFA spokesman said.

The ringgit hit a fresh low of 3.43 against the Singapore dollar in the last two days, according to Bloomberg data.

Mr Torrence Chua, who runs Top Durian Station in Bukit Batok, said he is happy for his customers, who get to enjoy good-quality durians at lower prices. 

But he added that sellers like him risk making losses when they have to keep slashing prices to clear stock. 

“When sales are slower on weekdays, we may not be able to sell all our stock. Around 20 per cent to 30 per cent of them would be spoiled,” said the 30-year-old. 

The abundant supply this season is due to a number of factors. 

Weather condition

Mr Alvin Teoh, who owns Durian 36 in Geylang, said the combination of optimal temperature, sufficient rainfall and strong sunlight has created the ideal environment for durian trees to flourish.

The heat spell also caused more durians to ripen simultaneously, which compelled growers to act fast to deliver them here.

Besides the weather condition, the KLSFFA spokesman also pointed out that the increase in supply is to be expected as there are now more farms with fruit-bearing trees, after an influx of investment in Malaysia’s durian cultivation sector around seven years ago.

Many investors, including those from Singapore, were drawn to the prospect of handsome returns as Malaysia was then actively knocking on the door of the massive Chinese market, which had a huge and growing appetite for the king of fruits.

‘Gold’ rush

“From around 2016 onwards, anyone hoping to get rich wanted to plant durians,” said Mr Chua, adding that some players even cleared oil palm and rubber plantations in order to plant “gold”. 

“The oversupply that we are seeing now is partly a result of over-planting at that time.”

In a typical year, there are two durian seasons, with the mid-year season ending in August. But many sellers predict a longer season that may last till September or October in 2023.

Mr Edwyn Chiang, secretary-general of the Malaysia International Durian Industry Development Association, said better farming techniques have contributed to the longer season. 

Durian farmers are also getting more knowledgeable about farm management, such as the use of organic fertilisers, said the KLSFFA spokesman.

“They also invested in piping and irrigation, so their trees are getting more optimal levels of water to grow higher-quality fruits,” he added. 

Export challenge

Mr Chiang pointed out that China is also not importing as many durians as expected. 

Malaysia is facing stiffer competition from its South-east Asian neighbours in exporting durians to China. Thailand, which traditionally dominates the Chinese market, remains a strong contender. Vietnam and the Philippines have also secured permits to export fresh durians to China lately. 

China’s home-grown durians from Hainan island are also expected to hit the market this month, according to the South China Morning Post.

While the development may irk profit-conscious investors, durian fans from both sides of the Causeway have reasons to cheer. 

“Durian is likely to remain affordable,” said Mr Chua, which means his customers need not worry about the fruit becoming a rich man’s delicacy.