{
  "id": 347738,
  "title": "Japanese food companies are taking a bigger bite of Malaysia, and halal demand is helping",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/japanese-food-companies-are-taking-a-bigger-bite-of-malaysia-and",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-09T04:02:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/08/09/japanese-food-companies-are-taking-a-bigger-bite-of-malaysia-and-halal-demand-is-helping/230670"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Malaysia is quickly becoming an attractive market for Japanese food exporters, with exports from Japan surging 42.3 per cent in the first five months of 2026. The Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in Kuala Lumpur reported that Malaysia had climbed to 10th place among Japan's top export destinations for agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products, up from the previous 13th position. Koichi Takano, Jetro's Kuala Lumpur managing director, attributed Malaysia's growing importance to the increasing demand for halal products, Japanese cuisine, and premium food among Malaysian consumers and businesses. Japan's agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food exports to Malaysia reached 29.1 billion yen (RM756.6 million) in 2025, a 26.3 per cent increase from 2024, and the first five months of 2026 saw exports hit 15 billion yen (RM390 million), a 42.3 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. The surge in demand is driven by the popularity of Japanese dishes like sushi and ramen, as well as growing interest in traditional Japanese cuisine, known as Washoku, which was recognized by UNESCO in 2013. E-commerce and increased tourism to Japan are also contributing to the rise in demand. Takano sees Malaysia as a potential launch pad for Japanese products in Southeast Asia and other Muslim-majority markets, thanks to its multicultural society, English proficiency, well-developed logistics infrastructure, and established halal certification systems. Japanese companies looking to expand beyond traditional markets could benefit from Malaysia's halal ecosystem, which offers opportunities for human resource development, product innovation, and efficient distribution networks. The Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported that green tea experienced notable gains in exports, driven by the global matcha trend and rising overseas awareness of Japanese food. However, Japanese producers face challenges such as higher costs for fertiliser, animal feed, energy, packaging, imported raw materials, and logistics, as well as risks from extreme weather conditions like El Niño. Jetro is working to build the next generation of demand by offering Japanese Cuisine Lecture Series at Taylor's University, targeting aspiring chefs who will enter Malaysia's hotel and restaurant industry.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Malaysia is fast becoming a bigger market for Japanese food, with exports from Japan jumping...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sumareh ignores criticism after helping Malaysia reach last four",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/sumareh-ignores-criticism-after-helping-malaysia-reach-last-four",
        "published": "2026-08-09T06:24:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}