 "Indonesia and Malaysia fight a thorny war over ‘national’ fruit — durian")
The durian fruit, often called the king of fruits, is widely associated with Malaysia. Many Malaysians proudly claim it as their national treasure. However, Indonesia challenges this view, insisting that it has a stronger claim to the durian. This disagreement has complicated Malaysia’s effort to officially declare durian as its national fruit.
Indonesia contests Malaysia’s national fruit bid
On November 18, 2025, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, popularly known as Zulhas, openly disagreed with Malaysia’s proposal to name durian as their national fruit. He based his stance on Indonesia’s larger durian production figures. Data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency showed that the country produced nearly 2 million tonnes of durian in 2024. This volume was described by Zulhas as far surpassing Malaysia’s output and thus made durian Indonesia’s rightful national fruit.
Durian production hotspots in Indonesia
Indonesia’s significant durian production is widely spread across several islands including Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. The 2024 output represents the highest yield in five years, fueled by favorable conditions across these key regions. Indonesia’s commitment to durian cultivation contrasts with Malaysia, whose production, although substantial, remains comparatively lower.
Malaysia’s durian industry and exports
Malaysia, meanwhile, is known for its premium durian varieties such as the Musang King, contributing to the fruit’s export value growth. While Malaysia’s total production figures are lower, the country has expanded its international market reach, particularly to China and other Asian countries. Despite the export success, Malaysia’s bid to elevate durian to official national fruit status faces a challenging debate due to Indonesia’s competing claim.
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