Companies likely to benefit from the increase in Malaysian food exports to Japan

According to recent reports, Malaysia is a major food exporter to Japan, with food product exports reaching RM8.93 billion or 291 billion yen in 2023. These exports include agrifood products such as beverage preparations, processed foods, and seafood, as per Japanese government trade statistics. Additionally, Japan is exploring new products like durian, which could benefit several Malaysian companies. Here are some companies that might gain from this increased export activity:

📌 $PLS / 9695 (PLS PLANTATIONS BERHAD)
PLS is involved in forest and oil palm plantation management, durian-related businesses (including plantation, contract farming, trading, and retail of downstream products), wood-based activities, and civil engineering and construction. In FY23, PLS signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Japan's Millennium Agriculture Technology and MyFarm Inc Japan to explore large-scale durian cultivation in Malaysia. This positions PLS to benefit from the rising demand for durian in Japan.

📌 $CAB / 7174 (CAB CAKARAN CORPORATION BERHAD)
CAB is one of Malaysia's largest integrated poultry producers, engaged in breeding and farming of grand-parent stocks, producing breeder eggs and hatching eggs into day-old chicks, broiler chicken farming, trading of poultry feeds and farm consumables, processing chicken, and manufacturing meat-based food products. In FY23, Japan contributed only 0.1% to its overall revenue. However, with the Japanese government encouraging more Malaysian product imports, CAB could see a revenue increase in Japan.

📌 $OFI / 7107 (ORIENTAL FOOD INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS BERHAD)
Oriental Food manufactures and markets biscuits, cakes, snack foods, and confectioneries. Its FY23 annual report indicates that its products are already exported to Japan, though specific figures were not mentioned. This presents an opportunity for OFI to increase its revenue in Japan.

📌 $QL / 7084 (QL RESOURCES BERHAD)
QL operates Family Mart convenience stores in Malaysia and is involved in integrated livestock farming, marine products manufacturing, and palm oil and clean energy production. They produce QL Sakura chicken eggs using Japanese methods, providing them with an opportunity to capitalize on increased exports to Japan.

These companies are well-positioned to benefit from the growth in Malaysian food exports to Japan. Are there any other companies you think could also gain from this opportunity?