Durian Deluge: $20 Fruits Now Half Price or Free in Singapore!

In Singapore, a fruit stall called Durian Ninja has become very popular because it is giving away free durians. Every day since the middle of June, people have been lining up around the block to get two free durians each. The stall gives away about 600 kilograms of durians daily. This is happening because there is a huge oversupply of durians this year, especially from Malaysia. Normally, Malaysia produces about 550,000 tonnes of durians each year, but this year the harvest is even bigger. As a result, durian prices have dropped sharply, with some that used to cost $20 now selling for half that price or even being given away for free.

Many people in Singapore and Malaysia are excited about the low prices. For example, a 69-year-old man named Cherng says he and his family have been eating durians almost every day. He says this is a rare chance to enjoy good quality durians at much lower prices than before. Fruit stalls in both countries are crowded with customers looking for bargains or hoping to get free fruit. However, the situation is not good for everyone. Malaysian farmers are struggling because they cannot sell their durians for as much money as before.

The reason for the oversupply goes back about ten years. At that time, durians became very popular in China, especially a variety called Musang King. Many Malaysian farmers switched from growing rubber trees and oil palms to planting durians. Now, all those durian trees are mature and producing fruit at the same time, which has led to a glut in the market. This has caused prices to fall, and some farmers are selling their Musang King durians for only half of what they got last year. Others are trying to make up for their losses by selling other fruits, like bananas.

Some of the durians being sold cheaply are not good enough to export, so they have to be sold locally at low prices. There are also other varieties, like Black Thorn and kampung durians, which are even cheaper. The weather has also made things difficult for farmers. Unusual rain or wind can affect how well the durians grow, and different regions in Malaysia have had different weather conditions. Some farmers had poor harvests, while others had normal ones.

The Malaysian government is trying to help small farmers by buying durians from them at a set price. They hope this will help stabilize the market and raise prices again soon. The durian industry is also working to improve the quality and reputation of Malaysian durians, especially in China. They want to focus on quality and authenticity, not just low prices.

Meanwhile, shops are coming up with creative ways to sell all their durians. In Malaysia, one stall lets customers fill a bag with as many durians as they can for just 100 ringgit, which is about $24. In Singapore, Durian Ninja continues to give away free durians, and the rest are sold for as little as $1 each. The owner hopes that these low prices will attract younger customers, since most of his buyers are older people. He wants more people to try different types of durians while they are affordable and easy to find.