SINGAPORE, June 24 — Durian sellers in the republic said local prices were unlikely to follow the plunge in Malaysia that has seen the king of fruits plunge going just a few ringgit per kilogram for popular varieties.

Retailers told The Straits Times that although prices have dipped over the past few days, the decline will be tempered by the realities of the Singapore market.

Mao Shan Wang, a perennial favourite, has dropped from a March peak of around S$28 S$20 per kg as of June 23. Less premium varieties, such as Red Prawn, have eased from S$14 to S$12 per kg.

Sellers expect Mao Shan Wang to bottom out at around S$18 per kg, mirroring the prices seen during the last major glut in December 2025.

“This is the cheapest it’s been in the last five years,” said Kelvin Tan, co-founder of 99 Old Trees in Outram Park.

However, Tan warned that quantity does not equal quality.

“The market is flooded with durians from new, younger trees, so the fruit quality is severely impacted. It takes longer to sieve out the good fruit.”

Singapore relies heavily on imports from Johor and Pahang, where seasons typically peak in June, July, and December. This year, hotter temperatures triggered an earlier and more abundant harvest, leading to a massive oversupply.

In Malaysia, reports suggest Musang King (Mao Shan Wang) is retailing for around RM6 (S$2) per kg, while Red Prawn has dropped to as low as RM2 per fruit.

“Those prices won’t happen here,” said Melvin Chua, founder of Durian Garden on Cambridge Road. “As a producer country, Malaysia is flush with stock and can afford to sell cheap, but our operating costs here are very high. Once you add overheads, transport, and GST, we simply cannot lower prices to that level.”

Linda Ang, co-owner of Combat Durian on Rangoon Road, has increased her stock by 50 per cent recently but remains cautious. Given the fruit's short shelf life, she refuses to overstock. She also noted a potential hit to local sales: “Malaysia keeps advertising how cheap their durians are. Since it’s the school holidays, many Singaporeans can just head to the farms directly.”

Not all consumers are deterred by the price gap. Chia, a retiree and long-time customer at Combat Durian, noted that while some less reputable stalls offer Mao Shan Wang for S$12 per kg or less, the quality is often poor.

“They are cheap, small, and odd-shaped, and the taste is not good,” he said. While he has previously bought 50kg baskets directly from Malaysian farms, he prefers the convenience and quality of local trusted sellers. “I would rather pay more and get a few good quality durians than commit to a whole basket that might turn bad in two days.”