Malaysia Durian Weekly #1: Main MSW Season Over, Prices Low

Durians hanging from a tree in an orchard

As of 10 October 2026, public reports say Malaysia's main mid-year Mao Shan Wang (Musang King) season ended in September, with a smaller wave usually due in November–December. Durian prices in China are near a three-year low, with sharp retail falls for mass-market Golden Pillow (Monthong). And tree-ripened Musang King now has a commercial sea shipment on record.

This week in brief

  • Supply: reports say Malaysia's main Mao Shan Wang season ended in September.
  • Prices: near a three-year low in China.
  • Logistics: tree-ripened Musang King shipped by sea; Malaysian Black Thorn reaches Northeast China.
  • Other origins: floods in Thailand; 39 charged in a Vietnamese export case.
Durians hanging from a tree in an orchard

Supply: is Malaysia's Mao Shan Wang season over?

Miss Lobang, a Singapore durian price-comparison site, updated its season guide on 4 October: Musang King usually peaks from June to early September, one region finished early this year, and the mid-year main season ended in September.

The Edge (opinion, 10 October) says years of heavy planting created a glut while Malaysia faces logistics limits and competition from Thailand and Vietnam.

Prices: why are they falling in China, and what about at origin?

Huxiu (30 September) cites data putting China's August import price and Guangzhou's July–August wholesale prices at a three-year low. It blames more supply, as Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia all gained access to China. Tencent News (29 September) reports sharp falls in Golden Pillow retail prices, while premium varieties keep their premium.

At origin, Huxiu says Malaysian kampung durian sells at the farm gate below the cost of picking, transport and sorting; The Edge says Musang King prices fell sharply in parts of the market. These are media readings, not our forecast.

Logistics: can sea freight replace air?

Container News (6 October) reports Wan Hai Lines completed a commercial sea shipment of tree-ripened Malaysian Musang King in controlled-atmosphere reefers, nearly two weeks at sea, arriving in good condition. It calls sea freight a cheaper, higher-volume alternative to air.

Refrigerated shipping containers stacked at a port terminal

Sina Finance (4 October, republishing Dalian Daily) reports 1.4 tonnes of Malaysian Black Thorn cleared inspection at Dayaowan, the first into Northeast China. In Rizhao, a first batch of 100 tonnes of imported frozen durian went into pledge supervision at a Shandong Port cold-chain park, to help traders free up cash (Jiupai Finance via Tencent News, 29 September).

Sea freight for tree-ripened fruit is now commercial, but routes, volumes and costs are undisclosed. It is too early to call it a replacement for air.

Thailand and Vietnam: what changed this week?

Thailand. ASEAN Top (5 October) reports that, by an initial count, floods in Chanthaburi affected about 4,000 farmers and damaged over 20,000 rai (about 3,200 ha) of orchards. Some durian trees died.

Vietnam. VietnamNet (2 October) reports 39 people charged in a China-bound durian export case, including the then deputy minister of agriculture. Allegations include bribery, forgery, improperly issued testing certificates and growing-area codes, and illegally sold growing-area and packing-facility codes.

What it means for importers (our view)

This is our view, not a market forecast.

  • Plan the off-season. Fresh options shrink after the main season; year-round channels should consider fresh-locked frozen product. Spike Durian freezes Malaysian Mao Shan Wang at peak season with Agrifreeze (see how Agrifreeze freezing works).
  • Read prices by variety. Golden Pillow prices say little about Mao Shan Wang.
  • Track sea freight. Ask your forwarder about controlled-atmosphere reefer space.
  • Check paperwork. The Vietnam case involved growing-area codes, packing-facility codes and testing certificates. Have your supplier and customs broker verify yours.
  • Borrow against frozen stock. Ask whether your port offers pledge supervision like Rizhao's.

What to watch next week

  • Timing of Malaysia's November–December wave.
  • New sailings from Wan Hai Lines or other carriers.
  • Updates on the Vietnam case.
  • Damage assessments in Chanthaburi.

Frequently asked questions

Is it still Mao Shan Wang season in Malaysia?

As of 10 October 2026, a Singapore price-comparison site says Malaysia's main season ended in September, with a smaller wave usually in November–December.

Why are durian prices in China so low?

Mainly more supply, say Huxiu and Tencent News: large-scale planting in Vietnam and elsewhere, more countries with access to China, and faster logistics.

How can I source Mao Shan Wang in the off-season?

Consider Mao Shan Wang frozen at peak season, as Spike Durian does with Agrifreeze. Ask us how supply works.

Sources this week

To see how fresh-locked frozen Malaysian Mao Shan Wang is supplied, visit our durian trade and export enquiries page.

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