Fresh Malaysian durian exported to China

Xinhua Finance, Zhengzhou, August 25 (Reporter Li Wenzhe) On the evening of the 24th, 15 tons of fresh durian from Malaysia arrived at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and were distributed to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Shenyang and other places. The whole cold chain delivery marked the first batch of fresh durian from Malaysia entering the Chinese market.

According to reports, this batch of fresh durian from Malaysia includes 10 varieties such as Blackthorn, Golden Phoenix, and Musang King, from 9 export companies in Malaysia. Since the fresh fruits allowed to enter this time are ripe durians, the customs clearance time is high. Zhengzhou Airport Customs has set up a "green channel" for fresh cold chain goods. On the premise of ensuring qualified inspection and quarantine, the goods can be inspected and cleared as soon as they arrive.

"The export of fresh durian to China is something that Malaysian durian industry has been looking forward to for a long time. I am very happy to witness this historic moment in Zhengzhou!" said Mohammad Shabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, who came to attend the airport reception ceremony.

At Henan Wanbang Wholesale Market, the largest agricultural product wholesale market in the central region, Sheng Weihua, marketing director of Zhengzhou Chen's Sunshine Fruit and Vegetable Trading Co., Ltd., told reporters: "We have carried out pre-sale promotions in major channels and on the Internet in advance, and they have been sold out long ago. The goods were sent away as soon as they arrived."

According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, my country's imports of fresh durian will reach 1.426 million tons in 2023, an increase of more than 70% year-on-year. Malaysia has been qualified to export frozen whole durian in shells to China since 2019. In June this year, with the signing of relevant agreements, the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement allowing the import of fresh durian from Malaysia that meets relevant requirements.

Fresh durian has a short shelf life and is difficult to preserve, and has high requirements for preservation technology and cold chain logistics transportation. As early as before the import was allowed, Zhongyu Aviation Group signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Commercial Support for the China-Malaysia Air Cargo Hub Project on the Air Silk Road" with Malaysia Airports Holdings, agreeing to open and increase the number of international cargo routes between Zhengzhou and Malaysia to create an efficient air logistics channel.

At present, the Zhengzhou-Kuala Lumpur route is operated by a B737-800 cargo aircraft, which can travel back and forth on the same day, with flexible frequency adjustment. It takes only 5 hours from Kuala Lumpur to Zhengzhou. In terms of air transport facilities, Zhengzhou Airport has 7 designated ports for imported fruits, chilled aquatic products, edible aquatic animals, etc.; the fresh cold chain warehouse in the northern cargo area covers an area of 3,000 square meters and has 7 cold rooms, which can be divided into different areas according to different cargo temperature control requirements.

"We have been looking for efficient and stable logistics channels, and finally chose to airfreight top varieties such as 'Musang King' and 'Black Thorn' to Zhengzhou first, to provide Chinese consumers with the best quality and taste of fresh durian." Chen Yikang, president of the Malaysian Durian Manufacturers Association, said that in 2023, Malaysia's exports of frozen shelled durian and frozen pulp to China will be 25,000 tons. As the channels to enter the Chinese market are opened, the export volume will increase further in the future.

It is understood that the China-Malaysia air cargo hub project is accelerating according to the planning model of "one line (air express), two stations (two-country cargo stations), and two zones (two-country parks)". As the fresh durian trade gradually matures, the "durian flights" between Kuala Lumpur and Zhengzhou will continue to increase, and seafood, flowers and other specialty goods from Malaysia, Indonesia and surrounding areas will be gradually introduced in the future.

Zhang Mingchao, secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of Zhongyu Aviation Group, said that the first flight of the durian flight will be used as an opportunity to create an "air silk road" connecting Southeast Asia, promote the construction of aviation hubs between China and Malaysia at a high level, and provide strong support for Henan to deepen economic, trade and cultural exchanges with RCEP countries.

Editor: Luo Hao