BEIJING, July 24 -- China's imports of durians rose 47 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, with Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia recording strong growth, according to official customs figures.

The increase comes as South-east Asian producers move to offload surplus fruit following a bumper harvest that has driven prices lower, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported yesterday.

"Demand from China remains strong in the long term, but it has not expanded at the same pace as production, resulting in downward pressure on prices during the peak season," said Lim Chin Khee, adviser to the Durian Academy in Malaysia told SCMP.

Lim noted that wholesale prices in China had eased, attributing the decline to increased supply from sever...