In a statement, its director-general Nor Sam Alwi said priority will be given to premium aromatic varieties – particularly the pandan coconut, known for its distinctive pandan fragrance and a natural sweetness, Bernama reported.
She said the export of fresh young coconuts is enabled with the newly established “protocol on phytosanitary requirements” that enhances biosecurity controls and ensures the production of high-quality Malaysian young coconuts.
According to Nor Sam, previously, Malaysia had been exporting young coconuts to China based solely on general phytosanitary certificates, without any specific protocol in place.
“With the implementation of this protocol, greater emphasis is now placed on the requirements for registered farms’ adherence to good agricultural practices (myGAP) and compliance with the integrated pest management (IPM) system.
“These measures will ensure that only high-quality and safe young coconuts are exported in line with international standards,” she said.
As such, Nor Sam encouraged more local entrepreneurs, particularly those cultivating fragrant varieties like the pandan coconut, to seize this opportunity.
She also urged them to register their farms for myGAP certification and ensure that their processing facilities comply with the necessary standards to qualify for export under the new protocol.
Malaysia officially received approval to export fresh coconuts to China following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between both countries on April 16, held in conjunction with the three-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Nor Sam said opening access to the Chinese market is also part of a long-term strategy to diversify export destinations for Malaysian agricultural products.
Malaysia’s coconut production reached 624,000 tonnes in 2023, with 6,000 tonnes of young coconuts exported abroad.
In contrast, Nor Sam said Malaysia imports a large amount of mature coconuts – exceeding 278,000 tonnes – to meet the specific requirements of the coconut-based processing industry, including the production of coconut milk, kerisik, desiccated coconut and related products.
She added that a range of incentives had been provided to coconut growers, including aid in the form of seedlings, fertilisers and pesticides, along with support for basic plantation infrastructure, covering initiatives for new planting, replanting, rehabilitation of ageing trees and crop integration.
“It is estimated that there are around 60,000 coconut growers nationwide. In terms of output, smallholders contribute over 80% of the country’s total coconut production.
“This clearly demonstrates that their involvement, supported by all relevant stakeholders, is central to the growth and sustainability of Malaysia’s coconut industry,” she said.