Textile

Textiles are the third largest contributor to annual manufactured export earnings, with total exports estimated at RM8.9bil in 2001. Major textile products manufactured for export include fibres, various types of yarns (cotton, nylon, rayon, polyester, etc), woven and knitted fabrics, floor coverings (carpets, rugs, etc), and industrial textiles (ropes, car seat fabrics, geo-textiles, etc).

Apparel products are also exported (jackets, T-shirts, coats, blouses, handkerchiefs and underwear)., with globally known brands like Adidas, Guess, YSL, Calvin Klein, BUM Equipment and Nike setting up export-oriented factories here. Future developments in the industry are expected to encompass the production of high-end apparel, the upgrading of the production of primary textiles, improvements in dyeing, printing and finishing technologies, and the promotion of Malaysia as a leader in the export-apparel market.

Food Products

The processed-food industry in Malaysia is aided by the fact that the country possesses a unique combination of an abundance of agricultural resources and a diversity of cultures, resulting in an extensive and exotic variety of processed foods. Malaysian foodstuffs are exported to countries like the United States, Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong. The key categories in the processed-food industry are fish and other marine-related products, spices, processed livestock products, cocoa products and convenience and frozen-food products.

The fish and marine-related product category includes canned fish, frozen prawns and surimi, while the processed livestock category includes frozen poultry, red meat products (burgers, nuggets, sausages,etc) and deli products (pepperoni, pastrami, salami, etc).

Spices

Malaysia is also active in the spice-production industry, being the world's largest exporter of pepper and pepper-related products (specialty peppers, processed pepper and pepper sauces). Other spices like coriander, turmeric, lemongrass, cinnamon, clove and fennel are also produced.

Cocoa products include cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa paste, all important ingredients in confectionery and chocolate-production operations the world over. Malaysia also produces chocolate products like chocolate bars, chocolate chips and cooking chocolate.

The convenience and frozen-food product industry in the country has reached an advanced stage of development, whereby improved packaging and food-preserving methods have raised Malaysia to the level of a major convenience and frozen-food exporter. Sauces, "roti canai" and steamed buns are among some of the Malaysian-produced convenience foods marketed overseas. The country has also become an important producer of halal foods, and has been commended as a model system for other halal-food producing countries.

Frozen food packages ready for export