Natural Resources

Palm Oil

Malaysia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. Malaysia produced 8.38 million tonnes of crude palm oil in 1996. In 1996, Malaysia exported 7.3 million tonnes of palm oil products comprising crude and processed palm oil and palm stearin valued at RM9, 435 million. The major markets were Pakistan, Singapore and China.

Rubber

Malaysia is the world's third largest producer of natural rubber. In 1996, rubber output amounted to 1.1 million tonnes to account for 17.1 percent of world production. A total of 980, 000 tonnes of rubber was expected valued at 3,509 million. The main importers were the EC, Republic of Korea, USA, Japan, Singapore, China and Russia.

Timber

Timber is Malaysia's second largest earner of foreign exchange after petroleum. Export volume of sawlogs and sawn timber in 1996 amounted to 10.6 million cubic metres. Export earnings for the year 1996 totalled RM5,321 million from both sawlogs and sawn timber.
The main buyers of Malaysia sawlogs in 1996 were Japan, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea whereas sawn timber exports mainly went to the EC, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Cocoa

Malaysia is a major producer of cocoa in the world. Malaysia's exports totalled 42,500 tonnes value at RM137.6 million in 1996.

Other crops

Other crops of significance are pepper, rice, coconut, vegetables, pineapples, sago, tapioca, sugar-cane, coffee, tea, tobacco, maize and groundnuts. Sugarcane and tea are grown as plantation crops while smallholders predominate in the cultivation of other crops.

Tin

In 1996, Malaysia which is a major producer of tin in the world, exported 34,300 tonnes of tin. Export receipts from the metal amounted to RM533 million that year. The main buyers were the EC, Japan and the Republic of Korea.