You may have to wait longer than usual this year for your durian fix

Singapore — If, like many people you’re looking forward to this year’s durian season, you may, unfortunately, have to wait some time, as there are delays in getting the full supply of fragrant fruit to Singapore.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), durian aficionados will need to wait longer this year because of several factors.

One is the global pandemic, which has disrupted many other supply chains.

Most of Singapore’s durian supply is from Malaysia. However, due to strict border controls as the number of Covid-19 infections increases, the durian trade has suffered, according to SCMP.

Another reason for this year’s delay in durian supply is the weather, which caused the flowers that were scheduled to mature on durian trees to wither before bearing fruit.

SCMP quotes one durian distributor, Mr Steven Lim, as saying that this year’s durian season “will be two to three weeks late.”

The strong rain earlier in the year, Mr Lim explained, caused the blooms of the durian tree to bloom later than usual, and to fall without blooming fruit.

His company may not even be importing the fruit until later this month.

And when the durian is imported, Singapore can expect a small supply this year, due to the smaller yield in Malaysia because of the weather.

However, contrary to the SCMP report, Mr Kelvin Tan, the director of 99 Old Trees durian store in Owen Road, told The Straits Times that the effect of the pandemic on the durian trade in Malaysia has not been so bad.

“The movement restrictions have resulted in minor delays in export licensing procedures and inconveniences, but, by and large, they are still quite well managed,” he told ST.

Other durian merchants in Singapore told ST that with consumption of durian down in Malaysia by over 40 per cent, the fruit will eventually make its way to Singapore—and in new varieties such as the rare Tupai King and the Mao Shan Wang.

At the moment, the fruit is selling for $23 to $25 per kilo but is expected to go down to $18 per kilo when larger harvests are accomplished.  

“But nothing is certain in the durian world,” ST quotes Mr Tan.

/TISG

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