
Johor allocates RM2 million to boost durian industry
The allocation, jointly provided with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, is expected to benefit 341 durian farmers and cover approximately 650 hectares of cultivated land.
The initiative is part of Johor's broader plan to upscale tropical fruit farming, with a target of producing more than 900,000 metric tonnes annually by 2027, including major crops such as coconut, pineapple, jackfruit, guava, watermelon, papaya, and banana.
State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the durian sector continues to show strong potential, especially with growing global demand for Malaysian varieties.
"The durian season may be ending, but our commitment to the industry is only beginning. This RM2 million investment reflects our focus on empowering local farmers and scaling Johor's tropical fruit industry sustainably," he said in a statement today.
Zahari added that while premium varieties such as Musang King and Black Thorn draw international attention, kampung durians still command a loyal following and steady demand.
Kampung durian refers to non-clonal, seed-grown durian trees typically found in rural orchards, smallholdings, or naturally propagated farms across the country.
"The fruit industry remains a key contributor to Johor's agro-economy, and the state plans to continue leveraging its fertile land and established farming networks to elevate export value.
"More funding and technical support are expected to be channelled to fruit cooperatives, research, and infrastructure development over the next two years," he said.
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New Straits Times
9 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Retaining cargo volume
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Westports Holdings Bhd acknowledged the increasingly complex operating environment, pointing to multiple global headwinds such as tariff volatility, growing regionalisation, military conflicts, intermittent port congestion, and unsettled interest rates. Despite these challenges, the company noted that front-loading activity earlier this year had supported container volume growth to date. However, it cautioned that sustaining this momentum in the second half may prove difficult due to persistent external pressures. "Asia's economic dynamism and the alliance-based operating models of container shipping lines could help cushion some of the volume decline," the company said in its latest financial filing. It forecasted a single-digit positive growth in container volumes for the year but noted that projections would be revisited as conditions evolve. Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd also highlighted concerns over the uncertain global trade environment, stating that ongoing tariff uncertainties and policy shifts could impact its overall performance. Nevertheless, Bintulu Port said it remains focused on enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring equipment reliability and maintaining cost competitiveness. "The handling of LNG cargo and vessel calls will continue to be the main revenue contributor. Additional support is expected from methanol, raw energy, Samalaju cargoes, and bulking services," the port noted. Efforts by Business Timesto obtain comments from other port operators, shipping companies and industry associations were unsuccessful at press time. Cost Pressure Rosli said there is a real risk of cargo diversion, especially for US-bound shipments and high-value goods, because shipping lines will respond to cost differentials. 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However, Rosli said the net impact of the tariff gap would not be immediate or total and over time, although the combination of a 19 per cent tariff on Malaysian-origin goods and Singapore's logistical strength could gradually shift cargo flows southward. He added that not all transshipment cargo would be affected by the tariff difference, especially when Malaysia continues to offer lower overall port charges. "Malaysia's port fees, denominated in ringgit, remain cheaper than Singapore's, providing some exchange-rate advantage," he said. Rosli warned that the bigger concern lies in perception, as major carriers may gradually adjust schedules and alliances to favour Singapore if they begin to see Malaysia as less competitive. Tariff Parity On what Malaysia can do to stop losing transshipment volume to rival ports, Rosli said the possible countermeasures include negotiating or lobbying for tariff parity. 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Yeah called for Malaysian ports to improve efficiency, turnaround times and value-added services to reduce the diversion of transshipment volume to Singapore. He said they also need to enhance connectivity with major international and regional ports to compete with Singapore's advantage in global linkages. Early Days UniKL Business School economic analyst Associate Professor Dr Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid said the dynamics of the Trump tariffs are clearly reflected in the ongoing shifts in US administrative decisions, creating unpredictability and uncertainty in global trade. He said Malaysia, like other countries, must learn and adapt accordingly to the new US trade policy under the Trump administration. Nevertheless, Aimi believes there will not be a significant impact yet, as the Trump administration is still negotiating with many countries. "Even the decision on Singapore has not been finalised, as the 10 per cent currently imposed is a temporary rate, similar to Malaysia's, effective until Aug 6. "More importantly, the China-US trade ceasefire will end on Aug 12 and will set the tone for the direction of global trade between the two largest economies," he said. Similarly, economist Dr Geoffrey Williams said it is still too early to judge trade shifts, as the tariffs may encourage changes in business models, but he cautioned that there is a risk and Malaysian ports need to respond. He added that shipping out of Singapore will be cheaper unless the tariffs are applied based on the country of origin. He said this depends on whether the tariff is charged based on where the product was made, rather than where it was shipped. "Malaysia always faces tough competition from Singapore, especially at PTP in Johor but is so far very competitive in cost and efficiency terms. 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The Star
32 minutes ago
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The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
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