Russia to supply grain to Malaysia

As part of a national effort to strengthen food security in Malaysia, the Melewar Industrial Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Union of Grain Exporters to secure a long-term grain supply, reported Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency. 

The signing Nov. 8 was attended by Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Agriculture and Food Security minister; Naiyl Latypov, Russian ambassador to Malaysia; Eduard Zernin, chairman of the Russian Grain Union; and Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra, chairman of Melewar Industrial.

Zernin said the MOU is the first major supply agreement with Malaysia, and the Russian Grain Union expects to annually deliver 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of wheat to the Malaysian market.

Russia is the world’s top supplier of wheat to global markets, with Black Sea grains and oilseeds research firm SovEcon forecasting exports of 45.9 million tonnes in marketing year 2024-25. Russia also supplies barley and corn.

Malaysia produces no wheat and must import its supply to meet domestic demand. The Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of agriculture estimated Malaysia would import 1.78 million tonnes of wheat in 2023-24. Australia has been the main supplier, with roughly half the market share.

Tunku Yaacob said Melewar Industrial has a long history in the food industry with a cattle farm in Kazakhstan, a poultry farm and processing facility in Cambodia, a prawn farm in Malacca, and an extensive food and beverage business focusing on the sale and distribution of imported food products in Malaysia.

In conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Tunku Yaacob said the company has identified a variety of food products that will support diversification of sources for the country’s food supply chain.