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Traders across the Klang Valley say premium durians have become increasingly difficult to source, with some vendors no longer stocking them because of limited supply. Musang King and Black Thorn now sell from RM25 (US$6) per kilogram, while hybrid varieties cost around RM18 and kampung durians about RM8.

Mohammad Shafik Dipis, a 33-year-old durian trader, told the New Straits Times that the season is entering its final phase, with harvests from major producing states including Negri Sembilan, Johor, and Pahang largely depleted. The remaining supplies are mostly kampung durians from Perak and Kelantan, which are also becoming scarce.

The season began with an unusually large harvest in June, when a bumper crop and a flood of export-rejected fruit triggered a price collapse dubbed the “durian tsunami.” Prices for the prized Musang King variety fell by as much as 90% to as low as RM9 per kilogram, according to AFP.

The sharp price decline made durian, long regarded as a luxury treat, affordable for many more consumers, reviving the tradition of families, neighbors and friends gathering to enjoy the seasonal fruit. Social media users also shared recommendations for budget-friendly durian stalls, photos of family gatherings and stories of employers treating workers from diverse backgrounds to durian as a gesture of appreciation, according to Malay Mail.

As the season winds down, trader Hazlan Tampong, 43, from Taman Medan, said he planned to temporarily close his stall after nearly two months of business as supplies, particularly premium varieties, had dwindled over the past two weeks. Musang King durians had become almost unavailable, leaving him to sell mainly kampung durians sourced from Sungkai, Perak. He expected to close within a few days before returning to his hometown until the next harvest season.

Despite the slowdown, Hazlan described the season as the best he had experienced in nine years of trading.

“This year was the most remarkable in my nine years of trading. There were simply too many fruits during the peak season,” he said.

He said the bumper harvest had enabled small traders like him to earn more despite high operating costs, while also allowing him to share the gains with his workers and customers.