
Malaysia's coffee market hits US$1.05 billion amid global supply challenges
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin highlighted the sector's growth while addressing external pressures affecting global supply chains.
Speaking at the 24th Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB 2025) and Malaysia Cafe Expo (MCE), Chan emphasised the need to expand local coffee cultivation.
'Strengthening our own production is the way to ensure the cafe economy continues to thrive while positioning Malaysia as a credible origin in the global coffee trade,' he said.
Key coffee-growing regions in Malaysia include Pagoh, Johor, and Ranau, Sabah. Chan urged local planters to capitalise on the crop's potential, despite coffee not falling under his ministry's direct purview.
Global coffee supply chains are under strain, with Brazil's 2024 Arabica harvest shrinking by 12% due to El Nino-induced droughts.
Additionally, the Red Sea crisis has forced shipping reroutes, adding US$0.12 to US$0.15 per pound to coffee arriving at Port Klang.
These disruptions have driven the International Coffee Organisation's composite price indicator up by 94.6% in just one year.
Chan also noted the symbiotic relationship between coffee and bakery products, which rely heavily on palm-based ingredients like margarine, shortening, and cocoa butter equivalent (CBE).
'This reinforces how Malaysia's palm oil industry is deeply interwoven with the rise of coffee culture and the cafe economy,' he said. - Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Barnama
17 minutes ago
- Barnama
UTeM Strengthening Aerospace TVET To Produce More Competent Graduates
MELAKA, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) is working to strengthen the Aerospace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to produce more competent graduates for the job market. Its vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Massila Kamalrudin, said the initiative is being carried out with the support of the National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia (NAICO Malaysia), which has paved the way for strategic collaborations with major industry players. She said the partnership represents a significant step forward in ensuring that UTeM remains dynamic and a leading reference point in high-tech TVET, particularly in aerospace. "At the global level, UTeM is also collaborating with the Moscow Aviation Institute in Russia, and we are actively developing an Aerospace TVET curriculum that is relevant, dynamic, and aligned with the current demands of the global job market. 'In addition, we are identifying specific competency certifications that will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to fully meet industry requirements," she said in a statement today. She said the initiative aims to ensure that every UTeM Aerospace TVET graduate possesses recognised professional qualifications and technical competencies, thereby enhancing their marketability both nationally and internationally. The Aerospace TVET programme will be offered entirely at the Faculty of Mechanical Technology and Engineering (FTKM) and the Faculty of Industrial and Manufacturing Technology and Engineering (FTKIP). Massila said UTeM's efforts to strengthen the Aerospace TVET field are in line with the government's aspiration to position Malaysia as a major aerospace hub in Southeast Asia, supported by a highly skilled workforce and a strong, competitive industrial ecosystem. Meanwhile, NAICO Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Prof Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah said the corporation is committed to fully supporting UTeM's efforts to develop an Aerospace TVET curriculum that meets industry standards and requirements.

Barnama
29 minutes ago
- Barnama
Construction Sector Set For More Job Flows In 2H 2025
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The construction sector is expected to see increased job flows in the second half of this year (2H 2025), driven by the gradual rollout of major public-sector infrastructure projects, said MBSB Investment Bank Bhd. In a note today, the investment bank said earnings visibility is expected to improve in 2H 2025, supported by active industrial job flows such as the Penang light rail transit (LRT) Mutiara Line and data centre prospects, alongside the multi-year public infrastructure roadmap under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). It said the Penang LRT has officially commenced following the issuance of Notice to Proceed, while land acquisitions for Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) are underway, unlocking the RM31 billion civil works portion of the project pipeline. Demand for data centres also remains structurally strong, with contractors continuing to secure hyperscale mandates as part of Southeast Asia's digital infrastructure boom, underpinned by robust leasing activity, cost competitiveness, and long-term client partnerships. "Overall, we view this as a positive development despite the headwinds faced by the construction sector in 1H 2025, stemming from delays in project rollouts within the pipeline and global trade tensions," it said. MBSB Investment has maintained its 'positive' stance for the sector, citing a combination of easing cost pressures, resilient private-sector demand, and improved public project execution. The bank noted that steel bar prices have continued to decline, down 9.91 per cent year-to-date and 19.5 per cent year-on-year, despite recent monthly fluctuations, while cement prices remain stable due to disciplined domestic production and raw material cost control, ensuring a favourable cost environment for contractors. "These cost dynamics, combined with the gradual easing of labour constraints and the ability to pass through the Sales and Service Tax and tariff-related costs, continue to support profitability in ongoing projects. "Momentum is also improving on the demand side," it added.

Barnama
35 minutes ago
- Barnama
FPT Launches AI-First Platform FleziPT, Accelerating Global Enterprise Transformation
HANOI, Vietnam, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Global IT firm FPT officially announced the launch of its new artificial intelligence (AI) platform, FleziPT. Designed to deliver end-to-end, customized AI-powered transformation solutions, FleziPT empowers organizations to achieve exceptional speed, precision, and quality in their transformation journeys. This launch strengthens FPT's position as an AI-first company with full-stack AI capabilities. FleziPT is backed by the company's AI-driven software development life cycle (SDLC), delivering intelligent solutions across key domains. It leverages an AI-augmented workforce, including 12,000 skilled software engineers proficient in AI and a million digital workers in the making globally.