The stinky, spiky¹ durian is set to become Malaysia's next major export as the Southeast Asian nation rushes to develop thousands of acres to cash in on unprecedented² demand for the fruit from China.

 

闻起来有点臭、满身带刺的榴莲将成为马来西亚的下一个主要出口产品，马来西亚正在大规模种植榴莲， 面积达数千英亩，希望从中国对榴莲前所未有的旺盛需求中赚取利润。

 

Once planted in family orchards³ and small-scale farms, the durian, described by some as smelling like an open sewer⁴ or turpentine when ripe, is attracting investments like never before. Even property tycoons⁵ and companies in palm oil, Malaysia's biggest agricultural export, are making forays into the durian business.

 

"The durian industry is transforming from local to global, large-scale farming due to the great demand from China," said Lim Chin Khee, a durian industry consultant⁶. "Before the boom, a durian farm in Malaysia would be a leisure farm ... Now they are hundreds of acres and bigger, and many more will come."

 

Durian may be banned in some airports, public transport and hotels in Southeast Asia for its pungent⁷ smell, but the Chinese are huge fans. Durian-flavored foods sold in China include pizza, butter, salad dressing⁸ and milk.

 

"Planting durians is not just a hobby today as durians are considered as ‘gold' in the agriculture industry," the agriculture department said in e-mailed comments to Reuters.

 

Even Malaysia's prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has seized upon it. "I feel it is time that we produce durians on a large-scale and systematic⁹ manner," he has said.

 

Malaysia's durian plantations¹⁰ covered 72,000 hectares last year but the area under cultivation¹¹ is growing, the department said, and in some areas plantations growing palm oil are switching to durian because it is seen as more lucrative¹².

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