Good appetite from overseas for Malaysian fruits: DRS Trading

KUALA LUMPUR: DRS Trading Sdn Bhd, a tropical fruit exporter, sees huge potential for Malaysian fruits in overseas markets, and expects to garner export sales of RM15 million this year.
Its director Abd Aziz Sakiman said the company registered export sales of RM5.2 million as at May this year and expects these to increase towards the last quarter when demand is usually higher.
DRS is currently exporting to the Middle East to countries like Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as to Europe including the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Belgium and Germany.
Among the fruits that have already hit those markets are carambola (star fruit), dragon fruit, jackfruit, papaya, tomato, mango, rambutan and mangosteen, he said.
“Our fruits are of premium quality and meet various international standards. We are more into exports as we are looking for higher prices to match the quality, which those countries can offer due to their higher purchasing power,” Aziz told Bernama.
He said last year the company exported about 366 tonnes of fruits, with 60% bound for Europe and the rest to the Middle East.
DRS has been working closely with at least 15 importers with links to big retail outlets and hypermarkets, including Germany’s LIDL, Swedish ICA AB, Tesco in the Middle East, Carrefour in France, and K-City Market and Jumbo Foodmarket in Finland, for the fruits’ distribution.