KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has continued to post strong performance in its agricultural export sector, with the commodity and commodity‑based industries sector accounting for 19.65 billion ringgit (4.81 billion U.S. dollars) of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026, Plantation and Commodities Minister Noraini Ahmad said on Monday.
At the same time, exports of commodity‑based products brought in 41.62 billion ringgit for the country, and all this was achieved despite disruptions to international supply chains and trade, Noraini said at the ministry's monthly assembly.
Noraini credited trade with major regional partners for the performance and urged the ministry and related sectors to implement measures to move up the value chain.
"China remains one of the most important markets for Malaysian agro‑commodity products, especially in our efforts to strengthen the downstream sector and promote value‑added products," she said.
She also cautioned against taking a relaxed approach, as geopolitical tensions are expected to persist and pose growing challenges to securing the future performance and growth of the sector.
"Global economic uncertainty continues. Geopolitical conflicts are putting pressure on supply chains. Logistics costs are changing. World trade policies continue to evolve. Demand for sustainability is also increasing. We need to read changes quickly. We need to protect existing markets. We need to open new markets," she said. ■
