SINGAPORE — Fans of the king of fruits are in for a treat this season, as durian sellers here, faced with a supply glut, are slashing prices to woo customers.

Shops here are selling the famous Musang King, or Mao Shan Wang, variety for as low as S$15 a kilogramme, CNA reported. The same fruits were being sold for double the price around this time last year.

One stall in Bedok North has decided to run an all-you-can-eat durian buffet. For S$38 a head, customers may feast on the Mao Shan Wang, D13 and D101 varieties for up to 90 minutes.

As an added sweetener, the stall — Majestic Durian — said on Facebook that children below the age of 12 and those over 55 get to have the buffet for free with each paying adult.

Those who are looking to spend a bit more may also try Goodwood Park Hotel’s S$39.80++ “Durian Fiesta” dessert buffet, with a selection of durian pastries, at its Coffee Lounge until July 14.

LOW PRICES LIKELY TO CONTINUE

Ms Melissa Yap, chairman of Pahang’s fruit farmers’ association, told CNA that the low durian prices this season are due to an increase in supply from Malaysian plantations, and weak demand due to Ramadan.

She added: “It is fasting month, so people living in peninsula Malaysia are not eating durians as much in the day time. Also, good weather means that there has been a bumper crop in many states. A combination of these factors could have led to the lower prices.”

Ms Yap added that the low prices will likely continue throughout this durian season.

“The thing is, states like Johor and Penang have produced a bumper crop of Musang King. But in Pahang, which produces tonnes of Musang King, the biggest wave of fruit fall will only come in June. This will boost the supply further to all our exporting countries, including Singapore,” she told CNA.