DFNet

October 03, 2026 | The Star |

China is making progress in domestic durian cultivation as experimental orchards in Yunnan Province begin producing tree-ripened fruit after several years of trials. This year marks the first large-scale fruiting of several pilot plantations, representing a step toward standardized commercial cultivation.

China's demand for durian continues to grow, with imports reaching 1.87 million tonnes in 2025, twice the volume recorded in 2022. To supplement imports from Southeast Asia, China has been developing durian cultivation in Yunnan and Hainan provinces.

Yunnan's diverse terrain and variable temperatures present challenges for durian production. Researchers are selecting cold-tolerant varieties and developing cultivation techniques suited to local conditions. In Honghe, 33 trees produced 123 high-quality fruits, while mature trees in Jinghong yielded up to 34 fruits each, with an average weight of 3.7 kilograms.

Hainan, which achieved its first commercial harvest in 2023, has approximately 3,333 hectares planted. However, most trees have not reached full production, and China's domestic durian output remains substantially smaller than its imports.

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