Durian national fruit battle: Malaysia vs Indonesia’s claim
November 19, 2025 | The Sun |
Malaysia’s proposal to designate durian as its national fruit has triggered strong pushback from Indonesia, which argues that it has a much deeper cultural, historical, and biological connection to the fruit. Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, said Indonesia produced nearly two million tons of durian in 2024—far exceeding Malaysia’s output—and therefore has a stronger claim. He emphasized that durian is culturally significant and supports millions of Indonesian farmers. Citing research institute BRIN, he noted that Indonesia possesses 21 of the world’s 27 known durian species and has registered over 100 superior varieties.
Indonesia plans to strengthen “Nusantara Durian” branding, raise production standards, and expand exports of fresh and processed durian products.
Meanwhile, Malaysia continues to explore its own proposal. The Durian Manufacturers Association has submitted a request for durian to be officially recognized as the national fruit and for July 7 to be designated National Durian Day, arguing that durian is part of Malaysia’s identity—especially premium varieties like Musang King.
The debate highlights regional pride, export ambitions, and growing competition in Southeast Asia’s booming durian industry.
Read more
Viewed Articles
November 19, 2025 | The Sun | Malaysia’s proposal to designate durian as its national fruit has triggered strong pushback from Indonesia, which argues that it has a much deeper cultural, historical, a
Read More
November 19, 2025 | malay mail | Penang is expanding its food security strategy by introducing an urban farming program to grow organic pineapples in non-traditional spaces, such as high-rise building
December 24, 2024 | BERNAMA | The Malaysian embassy in Tehran hosted a durian reception on Dec 22 to celebrate the cultural significance and economic value of the fruit, with a focus on the iconic Mus
November 02, 2025 | The Star | Malaysia’s pineapple industry has experienced remarkable growth, with exports more than doubling over the past six months, according to Agriculture and Food Security Min
May 02, 2025 | The Cool Down | Coconut prices in Malaysia and across Asia are rising sharply, with coconut milk prices nearly doubling since 2023. This surge is driven by multiple factors, including h
June 27, 2025 | The Nation | Malaysia is expanding its global durian footprint beyond the famous Musang King by promoting premium varieties like Black Thorn, Red Prawn, and newly developed hybrids suc
