Durian is cultivated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, where it is known as the King of Tropical Fruits. This fruit has a spiky hard outer shell, creamy flesh, large seeds, and its strong and pungent aroma which durian is known for. Durian can be consumed fresh, frozen or processed into juice, candies and other desserts. The seed of durian can also be eaten when cooked.

In the Philippines, durian is grown in 47 provinces with 1,342,881 bearing trees in 2019, as reported by PSA. The national average yield in 2019 was 4.75/mt ha as total production was 79,284 MT and the area planted was 16,678 ha.The Davao region is the top producer with 60,249 MT, making up 76% of the country’s total production. Other top durian producing regions are ARMM and SOCCSKARGEN. Some of the durian varieties in the Philippines are chanee, monthong, alcon fancy, arancillo, and puyat. The shape of these selections varies from cylindrical, elongated, ovoid and round, while colors can have hints of green, brown, yellow and gold. 

Durian industry in the country has export potential, especially during the peak season from May to October, as it is highly nutritious with high protein, carbohydrates and vitamins, and it is one of the most highly valued and desired among the seasonal fruits in Southeast Asia. The Philippines exported its first frozen products from Davao City to Australia in 2021.