ZHENGZHOU, China: The first batch of fresh durians from Malaysia has landed in Zhengzhou, China on Sunday.

The price of Musang King durian selling at RM40 per kilogram in Malaysia, is now selling at triple that price at 99 yuan (RM60) for 500 g at a supermarket in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

Chinese durian lovers are seen crowding a booth selling the pungent fruit from Malaysia.

The first batch of 15 tonnes of durians comprising Musang King, Black Thorn and others were flown to Zhengzhou on a 5-hour cargo flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu was present at Zhengzhou airport to witness the arrival of fresh durians from Malaysia, while Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup flagged off the inaugural export of fresh durians at KLIA on Saturday.

The King of Fruits will be distributed to Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shenyang and other parts of China.

Prior to this, frozen durians were exported to China starting 2019.

During the recent visit by Chinese premier Li Qiang to Malaysia in June in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China ties, an agreement was signed between both countries for the export of fresh durians to China.

The export of durians to China from Southeast Asia totalled US$6.7 billion (RM29.3 billion) last year.

Durian tops the list in the import of fruits for China.