Malaysia: Exports of halal goods expected to reach RM50 billion this year

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) — The demand for halal products remains positive despite the global economic downturn amid plunging commodity prices, the Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) said.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said Malaysia’s halal sector recorded a stellar performance last year, growing about 30 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), dominated by the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

“This is one sector that I think is crisis free. I believe when there is a crisis, people tend to eat more,” he told a press conference after accompanying Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan on a tour of Ramly Food Processing Sdn Bhd here today.

In the first nine months of 2015, the export value of halal products increased to RM31.1 billion from RM28 billion in the corresponding period of 2014, with China, Singapore, the US, Indonesia, and the Netherlands being the top five markets.

The value for the whole year is expected to increase to RM40 billion.

They were received by Ramly Group Founder and Managing Director Datuk Ramly Mokni.
Ramly Group founder Datuk Ramly Mokni said his company was set to increase its revenue in 2017.

He said the company was churning out products at maximum capacity and his side was waiting for a new factory in Pulau Indah, Selangor, that will be ready in 2017.

“We are working at full capacity but when the new factory in Pulau Indah is up and running, we expect to double our sales to RM2 billion.

“We are planning, with SME Bank, to open 450 branches all over Malaysia.”

Once opened, he plans to export to more countries than the current six, which are Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

“When the new factory is operating, we will export to the Middle East, Japan, Korea and Europe.”