The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) aims to export RM100 million (USD 30.5 million) of the fruit this year compared with RM86.3 million (USD 26.3 million) in 2013.
Director General Sahdan Salim said the target is based on the MD2 pineapple variant that will enter the Japanese market next month.
“The Japanese visited us last week and suggested exports begin with a container of 12,000 cartons of pineapples before increasing this amount periodically,” he added.
He told reporters this after a LPNM briefing here Wednesday.
Sahdan said the MD2 pineapple variant had the potential for export to Japan in the light of the country’s call for the people to consume fresh fruits.
He said three or four containers of pineapples are also expected to be marketed in China this year, if some barriers and regulations relating to exports there can be overcome soon.
According Sahdan, Malaysia and China signed a memorandum of understanding on pineapple exports two years ago.
“The visit by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to China next month, is expected to find a solution to the problem.
“South Korea has also shown a keen interest in import pineapples from Malaysia, but, we are considering a number of things including the price,” he said.
Sahdan also said Malaysia’s pineapple growers who ranked 15th in the world faced no problems in supplying the fruit to the countries concerned as it is grown throughout the year.
Malaysia’s total pineapple production last year was 376,704 metric tonnes worth RM651.69 million (USD 198.9 million).
Source: Bernama