Large Malaysian exhibitor contingent at Cologne food fair

FRANKFURT: One of the biggestever contingent of Malaysian exhibitors of food and beverage products is expected to participate in the forthcoming five-day Allgemeine Nahrungsund Genussmittel-Ausstellung (ANUGA) 2017 trade show in Cologne, which kicks off on October 7.

A total of 56 Malaysian exhibitors – there will be 40 exhibitors participating under the umbrella of the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) – will vie with competitors from around the world for a share of the global food and beverages market.

The MATRADE office in Frankfurt has since weeks been making preparations for the exhibitors’ participation, helping them with the processing work with the Messe Köln, the Cologne-based trade fair promotion agency and other matters.

The ANUGA fair is held every two years and is considered to be the biggest food show in the world.

“Malaysia’s food and beverage industry is a fast-growing industry which is making a foray into the global export markets.

The country’s most significant food and beverage exports are in the oils and fats sector, particularly palm-oil based products, with the country having attained the distinction of becoming one of the two largest exporters in the world,” Malaysian Trade Commissioner in Frankfurt Badrul Hisham Hilal told Bernama.

Malaysian companies have gained extensive experience in supporting major multinational companies involved in the production of food products in Malaysia; some of the big names include Nestle, Ajinomoto, Campbell, Cargill, Mafipro, Dutch Lady, Kerry Ingredients, Yakuli and Coca-Cola.

Malaysian exhibitors at the ANUGA 2017 would showcase frozen foods, confectionery, sauces and paste, beverages and ingredients. The food-processing industry is one of the oldest industries of Malaysia, accounting for about 10 per cent of the country’s industrial output.

“Malaysia currently exports food and beverages to more than 200 counties worldwide. The food and beverage sector’s exports exceeded US$4.8 billion in 2016. Malaysia’s market size is equally interesting, reflecting a market value of US$32.6 billion,” Badrul noted.

A huge pavilion would be set up, each in Hall 4.2 and Hall 1.1 of the gigantic exhibition centre at Cologne.

Malaysia’s food exports hold out the promise of finding new markets with the rising popularity among the world’s consumers for spicy and Asian cuisines - once described as “exotic foods” - thanks to the growing interaction between continents and ease of travel from one region to another.

The proliferating Asian community in major markets of the world has also contributed to this trend.

Malaysia’s total trade for the month of June 2017 jumped 7 per cent to RM 136.26 billion, up from RM 127.38 billion, in June 2016.

Trade with China, India, Japan, the European Union, Asean, the United States, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea has been growing at an impressive rate.

Malaysia’s global exports during the first six months of 2017 amounted to RM451 billion (+ 21.5 per cent) while imports into Malaysia for the same period amounted to RM408 billion (+ 23.3 per cent).

Malaysia’s exports to Germany in 2016 amounted to RM22.295 billion while imports from Germany amounted to RM24 billion in the same year.

During the January-June 2017 period, Malaysia’s exports to Germany amounted to RM13.147 billion while imports from Germany amounted to RM12.273 billion. — Bernama