A vendor sits among baskets of durians in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 4, 2007. Photo by Reuters
Durian prices in Malaysia have dropped to as little as half a ringgit (12 U.S. cents) per fruit due to a supply glut, triggering a buying frenzy as people are keen to take advantage of the bargain.
Videos shared on social media show long queues and large crowds at durian stalls in Bangi, Selangor. One Facebook seller offered durians for RM50 ($11.80) for 10 kilograms. Clips on Threads show customers filling plastic bags with the fruit as soon as fresh stock arrived, AsiaOne reported.
The prices of all varieties have plummeted: Premium Musang King durian is around RM9 for a kilogram, varieties such as IOI and Red Prawn are down to as low as RM2 per fruit. Some lower-grade durians are sold for just $0.12 each.
Despite that, vendors assured, quality has remained largely unaffected. Many sellers have promotions allowing customers to handpick their durians and pay by piece or fill sacks that buyers can fill for a flat RM100 .
Many traders are opting to slash prices in an effort to clear excess inventory since, with their short shelf life, unsold durians can spoil quickly.
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