
Pre-CIIE: China's imports of fruits to grow with big appetite for durians, coconuts
Malaysian fresh durians , which have witnessed an export boom since last year, are still in high demand ahead of the peak season in August, according to Guo Min, deputy marketing director with distributor Joy Wing Mau's China operations.
'The growth trajectory remains robust and we foresee surging demand [for the fruit] next month,' he said in an interview, adding that Malaysian durians were the most sought-after by consumers among imported fruits. 'We have got the logistics and warehousing arrangements ready to better serve the market.'
Malaysia started exporting fresh durians to China last year, shipping 24.8 million ringgit (US$5.9 million) worth of them between August and December, according to data from Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. In the first four months this year, Malaysia's share of the durian market in China had grown tenfold, Guo added.
Thailand held a 57 per cent share of China's US$6.99 billion durian market in 2024, Chinese customs data showed.
A shop selling durians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The native Southeast Asian fruit is renowned for its unique and strong flavour. Photo: AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
2 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong stocks kick off trading on a strong note after US-EU trade deal
Hong Kong stocks started the week on a solid note after the US and the European Union (EU) agreed on a trade deal with a lower-than-expected tariff rate that could prevent the global economy from slipping into a recession. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.6 per cent to 25,533.23 at 10.07am local time, while the Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 0.1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index both climbed 0.2 per cent. China Life Insurance rallied 5.9 per cent to HK$24.10 and New Oriental Education & Technology rallied 3.9 per cent to HK$37.30. Ping An Insurance Group added 2.6 per cent to HK$56.10. The framework trade deal between the US and the EU included a 15 per cent tariff on European goods entering the US and significant EU purchases of American energy and military equipment, according to President Donald Trump. The US also struck a trade agreement with Japan last week, which triggered a rally in global equities amid fading fears of a trade war. Traders were gearing up for an eventful week: a third round of trade talks between China and the US are underway in Sweden. In addition, the US Federal Reserve will unveil its decision on interest rates and bellwether companies including HSBC Holdings are due to release first-half earnings reports.


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Mainland Chinese hotel brands poised to reshape Hong Kong's hospitality scene, analysts say
Mainland Chinese hotel operators are expected to significantly increase their presence in Hong Kong's hotel industry , potentially replacing established brands in the coming years, according to analysts. Currently, Western and international operators dominate Hong Kong's hotel landscape, while Chinese ones have a minor presence. Among some of the more notable mainland players, BTG Homeinns operates both upscale and mid-market hotels in Hong Kong, including the Wharney Hotel in Wan Chai, Oasis Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Oasis Aurum 181 in Sai Ying Pun. However, mainland brands had significant potential for growth, said Hannah Jeong, executive director and head of valuation and advisory services at CBRE Hong Kong. 'The Chinese operators are increasing their footprint and it's a global trend,' said Jeong, adding that because 70 per cent of tourists in Hong Kong came from the mainland, Chinese hotels 'must show their presence' in the city. The shift reflects the growing ambition of Chinese hotel operators to expand beyond the mainland, which could give them a competitive edge in attracting hotel asset owners, according to CBRE. Tourists at the Observation Deck of the Peak Tower. Photo: Elson Li Hotel operations typically follow several business models, such as a master lease – where the hotel owner leases the asset to an operator – or hotel service management, whereby the operator manages the hotel on behalf of the owner.


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's super-rich investors eye Shanghai hotels for scarcity value, tourism appeal
China's billionaire investors are looking to pick up luxury hotels in Shanghai while institutional investors like insurers and real estate investment funds and private equity giants take a back seat, as economic stability rekindles risk appetite, according to JLL. The super-rich are eyeing hotels in prime locations in the commercial and financial hub, undeterred by the current low returns, according to Sun Ling, head of JLL's capital markets division in East China, citing the scarcity value of such properties over the long run. 'Investors' concentrated allocation towards core-area assets reflects not only a stabilising risk appetite, but also highlights the scarcity value and resilience of Shanghai's core-area assets,' she added, declining to identify the hotel targeted by the billionaires. Their appetite could inject confidence in Shanghai's slumbering property market. Transaction value of office buildings, rental-home projects, shopping malls and hotels slumped 29.7 per cent to 23 billion yuan (US$3.2 billion) in the first six months from a year earlier, data compiled by CBRE showed. 01:36 Visitors swamp Chinese tourist sites during 'golden week' Visitors swamp Chinese tourist sites during 'golden week' Average transaction value fell 25 per cent to 360 million yuan in the second quarter from the preceding three months, according to JLL, with high-net-worth individuals and corporate investors contributing 88 per cent of the 23 deals, Sun said.