U.S. Fresh/Frozen Pork Now Eligible for Malaysia

U.S. fresh/frozen pork products are now eligible for export to Malaysia. All U.S. pork slaughter facilities are eligible, but plants must submit an application to the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur before they are approved to export.

A link to the application form and guidance on submitting the form are provided in the FSIS Export Library. Also included is a link to the Malaysia Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) website, which harbors the approved plant list. (Please note the U.S. approved plant list is under the name “Amerika Syarikat.”)

Because further processed pork products were already eligible prior to this Export Library update, exporters do not have to complete the DVS application in order to ship these products.

According to the USDA data, Malaysia’s 2014 pork production is expected to be about 235,000 metric tons (mt), which is steady with last year. Domestic production could face significant obstacles in 2016, when new environmental regulations are set to take effect. Only 5 percent of Malaysia’s hog farms are currently in compliance with these requirements.

Because Malaysia’s population is more than 60 percent Muslim, opportunities for pork consumption growth are limited. Per capita pork consumption is only about 8 kilograms per year, though this translates to 20 kilograms per year among the non-Muslim population.

Malaysia is 97 percent self-sufficient in pork production, but this figure is inflated due to controls placed on imports. Malaysia’s pork imports dropped by more than half in 2012 (to 9,251 mt) due to a regulatory change that no longer allowed plants with pending audits to export to Malaysia. Imports rebounded modestly last year, reaching 10,382 mt. Through August of this year, imports were slightly below their 2013 pace. Germany and China were the primary suppliers, followed by Canada, Spain and Belgium. Fresh/frozen cuts imported are primarily ribs and bellies.

Exporters with questions about serving this market may email Travis Arp or call 303-623-6328.

Import data source: Global Trade Atlas