According to the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, global demand for Malaysian pepper is expected to continue its upward trajectory in 2024 and 2025, attributable to potential application of pepper in various sectors including pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals, as export volume reached RM86.4 million from January to July 2024, compared to RM80.2 million recorded during the corresponding period last year, reported Bernama on Dec 26.
The Japanese market accounted for nearly 50% of the country’s pepper exports as the Japanese consumers favour the distinctive spiciness of Malaysian pepper. In addition to Japan, other major pepper export markets included China, South Korea and Sweden.
The neighbouring Singapore was also a major importer of Malaysian pepper, recording a pepper trade valued at RM8.20 million from January to July this year, compared to RM5.86 million registered last year in the corresponding period.
In 2024, pepper cultivation area in Malaysia expanded to 8,215 hectares, from 8,172 hectares in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of pepper farmers grew to 39,137 in 2024, from 38,986 in 2023, reflecting the government’s development initiatives implemented through the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) especially assistance towards small plantation owners and pepper entrepreneurs.
According to the ministry, the integrated programmes, projects, incentives and assistance implemented by the government not only ensure the sustainability of the pepper industry but also boost the development of the upstream and downstream sectors.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government has allocated RM50 million for the New Pepper Planting Scheme and the Mature Pepper Planting Scheme, and another RM3 million to implement the premium quality pepper projects and additional RM5 million to support competitive downstream entrepreneurs.
