The first-ever durian conference in Hainan made headlines as 6.91kg of durian was auctioned for a staggering 388,888 yuan (S$72,300). The bidding started at a mere 880 yuan (S$165) for approximately 6.91kg of durian. The bid swiftly soared, surpassing 100,000 yuan before Jilin Sendian Food Company emerged as the winning bidder.
The conference, reported by China News Service, showcased nearly five tons of durians, including the highly sought-after varieties like Golden Pillows, Musang King, and Kan Yao. Kan Yao, a Thai variety related to Musang King, holds a reputation for being one of the world’s most expensive fruits.
Hainan Youqi Agriculture, responsible for planting the durians in Sanya, struggled to cultivate durians in the region. Despite challenges, they successfully manage around 1,300 acres of durian plantations, yielding an annual output of approximately 40 tons.
According to an associate researcher at the Institute of Tropical Crops Variety Resources of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, domestically grown durians offer a fresher and richer flavour, making them more appealing than imported varieties. This is because the durians are fresher as compared to imported ones.
However, large-scale commercial durian planting in China remains limited, and the industry heavily relies on imports.
Chinese state media reported domestically grown durians to be sold starting from June 2023. While efforts have improved the survival rate of durian seedlings to 98%, projected yields for this year have fallen sharply, expected to reach about 50 tonnes.
China’s appetite for durians continues to grow, with the country importing approximately US$4.03 billion (S$5.36 billion) worth of the thorny fruit in 2022. The first quarter of 2023 alone saw China importing a record 91,000 tonnes of durians, the highest number in the past five years.
Related article: Hainan Durians Are Almost Here: To Hit Market in 2024
