Kochi yuzu suppliers target more Malaysian sales channels
Halal-certified desserts, drinks and jam are already sold in Malaysia, while producers are keeping prices unchanged despite higher input costs.
Producers of yuzu products in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture want to reach more Malaysian buyers by broadening distribution, said Akihisa Ikeda, director of the Kochi Representative Office in Singapore. He said favourable market feedback was encouraging their efforts.
In an interview with Bernama during the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2026), Ikeda said Kochi was taking part for the first time. Its halal-certified offerings were displayed within the Japan Pavilion as producers sought opportunities in halal food.
The participants included dessert maker Kochi Ice Co Ltd, whose ingredients include yuzu and other citrus fruits. Umaji Village Agricultural Cooperative, representing growers of yuzu, also attended.
Ikeda said Japanese restaurants in Malaysia already offer halal-certified frozen desserts containing juice from Kochi yuzu. Malaysian retail shops also carry the cooperative’s halal-certified yuzu drinks and jam.
Alongside efforts to develop exports to Europe and the United States, Kochi is seeking more business in Asian markets such as Malaysia and Singapore. Ikeda said its producers were aiming at buyers who value the fruit’s quality and distinctive characteristics.
Although packaging and other raw materials had become more expensive, Ikeda said prices would remain unchanged for now. Producers were placing the emphasis on preserving product quality, he said.
