Food, beverages and halal ingredients account for the bulk of Malaysia’s exports, with China emerging as its largest Asian market
Malaysia’s halal exports to Asian markets reached approximately $45.13 billion over five years, driven by growing demand for food, beverages, halal ingredients and other certified products across the region.
Annual exports increased from around $5.87 billion in 2021 to $11.03 billion in 2025, marking an 87.8% rise over the period, according to figures released by Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation (HDC).
The export value reached a five-year high in 2025 after a dip in 2023, reflecting the expanding reach of Malaysia’s halal industry across major Asian economies.
Food and beverages remained the backbone of Malaysia’s halal exports to Asia, accounting for approximately $24.97 billion, or 55.3% of the five-year total.
Halal ingredients ranked second, generating around $14.32 billion, equivalent to 31.7% of exports, while cosmetics and personal care products contributed approximately $2.82 billion, or 6.3%.
The figures highlight the breadth of Malaysia’s halal export sector, which extends beyond food products to include ingredients, personal care items, pharmaceuticals and industrial products serving both consumers and businesses.
China was Malaysia’s largest halal export destination in Asia, with shipments valued at approximately $8.17 billion over the five-year period.
Japan ranked second with $3.85 billion, followed by Indonesia at $3.53 billion, Thailand at $3.02 billion and India at $2.91 billion.
The distribution of exports across these major economies underscores the importance of Asian markets to Malaysia’s halal industry and its regional supply chains.
Malaysia has developed a broad halal ecosystem encompassing certification, manufacturing, ingredients and consumer products. Rising export values indicate opportunities for businesses to expand their presence in Asian markets, although sustained growth will depend on market access, regulatory compliance and the ability to meet changing consumer demand.
The HDC has encouraged businesses and industry stakeholders to explore its Halal Knowledge Centre for information and resources on the sector.
The figures were published by the Halal Development Corporation Berhad for informational and knowledge-sharing purposes.
