JOHOR is strengthening its position as Malaysia’s leading pineapple producer, with continued investments and a strong push towards expanding downstream activities.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said Johor remained the backbone of the national pineapple sector, driven by growers, marketers, processors and craft entrepreneurs.
“These players form a vital ecosystem that supports the overall value chain, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of the industry.
“Johor continues to lead the pineapple industry at the national level, thanks to the dedication of more than 1,400 industry players across the state,” he said.
Zahari added that the state’s pineapple cultivation area had exceeded 10,000ha, accounting for 56% of Malaysia’s total planted area.
The Buloh Kasap assemblyman said Johor recorded production of 347,000 tonnes of pineapples in 2024, further cementing its dominance in the sector.
Kluang has the largest cultivation area in the state, followed by Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar and Kota Tinggi, he added.
Despite Malaysia achieving a self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of over 100% for pineapples, Zahari said the industry continued to receive strong attention due to its significant growth potential.
He added that demand for pineapples remained high, particularly in export markets that continue to expand.
“In 2025, Malaysia recorded pineapple exports of 76,000 tonnes valued at RM1.4bil, and this is projected to increase to RM2bil by 2027,” he said in a statement after attending the Southern Region Pineapple Industry Workshop in Iskandar Puteri.
Zahari also said Johor was well positioned to capitalise on this growth, especially through downstream activities such as food and non-food processing, product development and market expansion.
He added that with continued support from the government and agencies, the pineapple industry could become a major contributor to the state’s agri-food economy.
To further boost the sector, Zahari said the state government, with support from the Federal Government through the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB), allocated over RM14mil for 2025–2026.
The funding, he said, was aimed at increasing production capacity and strengthening the entire pineapple value chain.
Zahari added that the state government, through Johor Biotech, was also working closely with agencies such as MPIB, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), Agriculture Department and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to promote pineapple as one of Johor’s iconic commodities.
“This includes the implementation of the Johor Pineapple and Durian Branding Programme, which has been allocated RM1mil under Johor Budget 2026 as announced by Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.”
Zahari said more than 100 entrepreneurs recently benefitted from a southern region pineapple industry value chain course organised by the MPIB.
The programme, he said, provided participants with exposure to the full spectrum of the industry, including technology adoption and best practices in production, processing and marketing.
Zahari urged industry players to continue innovating, adopt new technologies and strengthen strategic collaborations to ensure the sustainable growth and global competitiveness of Johor’s pineapple industry.
