ISKANDAR PUTERI (May 18): The export value of Malaysia’s pineapple-based products is expected to reach up to RM1.3 billion this year in line with the increasing trend, said Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Chan Foong Hin.

He said the trend could be seen through the export value of pineapple-based products in recent years, with last year’s value recording RM1.2 billion, RM1.1 billion in 2021 and RM642 million in 2020.

“As much as 80% of the pineapple export value is canned food. At the same time, we also want to continue to explore new markets (especially) for fresh fruits.

“Fresh fruits are a lucrative market and in high demand especially in the Middle East and China, so, we want to continue exploring new markets," he said at a press conference in conjunction with his official visit to Tuzra Marketing sales centre, here on Thursday (May 18).

Also present was Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.

Chan said the country's largest number of exports of pineapple-based products are to Singapore, the Middle East, China, Japan, and South Korea.

When asked if the hot weather conditions would affect pineapple growth, he said that they are resilient plants and can withstand such weather conditions.

"The hot weather actually provides an advantage to pineapples. The current hot conditions would not affect the fruit’s production, except at the beginning of the new planting during the hot season.

“We need to water the pineapples in one or two weeks, and then, they can survive with the help of dew water,” he said.