Durian lovers in Singapore are enjoying one of the cheapest Musang King seasons in years, with sellers offering the premium variety for as low as S$8 per kilogram. This price drop comes after a bumper durian harvest in Malaysia, which has pushed supply up and prices down across the region. For many consumers, this means paying at least half of what Musang King, also known as Mao Shan Wang, cost just a year ago.
Musang King is well known for its rich, creamy texture and bittersweet taste, making it one of the most popular durian varieties in Singapore. However, sellers are already warning that these low prices are temporary, as the durian season is nearing its end and supply is expected to tighten soon.
According to Mr Alvin Teo, owner of Durian 36 in Geylang, the current prices are likely to last only a short while. “Most probably, I think, can last for another two weeks’ time. When the supply is low, I think the price will definitely increase, maybe by around 20 to 30 per cent,” he said.
Strong demand despite lower prices
Even with lower prices, demand for Musang King remains strong. To keep up, Mr Teo said he is importing about 20 per cent more durians compared to last year, bringing in around 700kg to 800kg daily. Most of the stock is sold quickly, while the remaining durians are processed into puree and supplied to dessert shops. He also shared that online delivery sales have risen by 50 per cent during this season.
At the Famous Durian stall in Yishun, owner Anthony Gan said he has never seen Musang King prices drop this low in his 10 years of selling the variety. The sharp fall, he explained, is linked to much higher yields reported by durian farms across Malaysia this season.
“Compared to the previous season, it’s about S$8 cheaper per kilogram. For those that don’t sell as a whole, I usually pack them into boxes the next day and sell them at a discounted price,” Mr Gan said.
Despite the oversupply, customers continue to buy in large numbers. Mr Gan noted that his Musang King sales are up by 30 per cent compared to last year, helped by promotions such as buy-five-get-one-free deals.
Minimising waste and offering more options
In Geylang, Durian SG Prime is also adjusting its operations to manage the high volume of Musang King durians. The store imports about 250kg daily, which is more than double the amount of other durian varieties. Around 90 per cent of the stock is sold fresh.
Co-founder Sean Yap explained how the remaining durians are handled. “The (remaining) 10 per cent, we will use it in boxes, as you see the S$2 ones. Others that still can be used (will be turned into) puree, and soon we will have a durian cafe over here … to sell durian puffs, durian chendol, all these things.”
Mr Yap added that the S$2 durian boxes have been especially popular with migrant workers, who usually avoid durians due to high prices.
Other sellers are also cutting prices on popular varieties like Red Prawn or Hong Xia to attract more customers. However, they pointed out that not all durian types are affected in the same way. Varieties such as D24 have not seen similar price drops due to limited supply.
As Mr Yeo from Durian 36 put it, “The supply is not much. So yes, we are selling at S$8, S$5 per piece.”
