2023 a year of headwinds for Malaysia's major commodities

Worker harvesting fresh fruit bunches in an oil palm oil plantation in Kampung Kuala Tasek in Bukit Mertajam. —ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s major commodities suffered a setback in 2023 despite a weaker ringgit as it was overshadowed by demand deficits due to global economic uncertainties arising from the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

It was further hampered by extreme weather conditions and the issue of labour shortages, which resulted in lower production in all the four major commodities such as palm oil, rubber, cocoa and pepper.