Malaysia's pepper exports reached RM86.4 million from January to July 2024, higher than the RM80.2 million during the same period last year. Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the Japanese market alone accounted for almost 50 per cent of the country's pepper products. 'Japan is our traditional market as Malaysia's peppers have a different type of spiciness than those from other countries 'Apart from Japan, other major pepper export markets are China, South Korea and Sweden,' he said at a press conference after Malaysian Pepper Campaign 2024's opening ceremony here today. Liew added that the value of the pepper trade with Singapore was also encouraging, rising to RM8.20 million or 368.1 tonnes during the first seven months of this year compared with RM5.86 million or 288.44 tonnes in the previous corresponding period. He said that Singapore is an important trade partner for the pepper sector, and it has vast growth potential based on economic and trade relations with Mal aysia as well as geographical factors Meanwhile, Liew said that pepper cultivation in Malaysia has increased to 8,215 hectares in 2024 from 8,172 hectares last year. 'The number of farmers rose to 39,137 this year from 38,986 in 2023. 'This highlights the pepper industry's rapid growth due to the government's development efforts through the Malaysian Pepper Board,' he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency