Malaysia Secures More than RM200 Million in Trade Value at Chengdu’s 114th China Food and Drinks Fair (2)

Friday, 3 April 2026, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), in collaboration with Messe Worldwide Sdn. Bhd., successfully concluded Malaysia’s participation in the 114th China Food and Drinks Fair (CFDF). Held from 26th to 28th March 2026 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, the Malaysia Pavilion featured 9 dynamic Malaysian SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)’s Gate to Global Programme, showcasing the very best of Malaysia’s Food and Beverage products, including the unique flavours from East Malaysia. 

Throughout the three-day engagement, the Malaysia Pavilion was a focal point for business interactions, hosting over 60 targeted business meetings. These sessions connect exhibitors with high-profile buyers from across China which generated a total sale of more than RM200 million. This reflects the surging demand for Halal certified, high quality Malaysian products and a shared commitment to long-term cross-border partnership. 

CFDF, is one of the China’s largest, longest-running and most influential trade exhibitions with a history spanning decades. Held in Western China, the event serves as a powerful gateway for global food & beverage brands to taps into the world’s largest consumer market. Driven by a growing middle class, a trend-savvy younger generation, and expanding international communities, the region is also seeing increasing demand for diverse global flavours. 

“MATRADE’s participation in CFDF is in line with MATRADE’s export market diversification strategy by exploring the growing Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in China such as Chengdu. The trade event emerged as a key gateway to the fast-growing Western China market and represents a significant opportunity for Malaysia’s premium Food and Beverage products”, said YBrs. Mr. Abu Bakar Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE. 

In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Malaysia hit RM541.54 billion, cementing China’s position as Malaysia's top trading partner. Notably, Sichuan Province emerged as one of Malaysia’s top ten provincial trading partners within China, contributing RM18.85 billion to the total trade volume. 

The showcase highlighted the diversity and premium quality of Malaysia's Food and Beverage sector, ranging from functional health beverages and tropical fruit-based snacks to authentic ready-to-eat sauces and bird’s nest products. Among these, the premium Malaysian bird’s nest emerged as the most sought-after product, followed by innovative traditional snacks where heritage recipes are reimagined with a modern twist and a strong demand for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products that capture the essence of Malaysian Food and Beverage expertise.

The success of the event shows the resilience and global appeal of Malaysian Food and Beverage brands and sets a promising tone for future bilateral trade. The interest shown by the Chinese buyers highlighted a significant shift toward premium, healthy, and halal certified food and beverage products. Malaysian companies interested in exploring opportunities in China are encouraged to contact MATRADE to learn more about the market and available promotional platforms.