Reference Date: 20-November-2024

Planting of 2025 main paddy crop ongoing

Planting of the 2025 main paddy crop is ongoing and is expected to conclude in December in Peninsular Malaysia, the country’s main paddy-producing area. In the minor producing states, planting operations finished last August in Sabah and are expected to finlize at the end of November in Sarawak. The country’s area planted is forecast to remain close to average levels. Weather conditions since the start of the cropping season have been generally favourable and supported yields, as depicted by above-average vegetation conditions over most of the country.

Below-average paddy production obtained in 2024

The 2024 paddy cropping season concluded at the end of July and the aggregate paddy production is estimated at 2.2 million tonnes, 8 percent below the average. The output reduction is due to below-average sowings and yields on acount of dry weather conditions during the cropping season associated with the El Niño event.

Above-average cereal import requirements forecast in 2024/25

The country relies on cereal imports to meet its domestic requirements, as local production covers only about one‑fourth of the total national cereal consumption. For the 2024/25 marketing year (July/June), total cereal import requirements are forecast at 7 million tonnes, 6 percent above the average. Maize imports, which account for the bulk of the imported cereal amounts, are projected at an average level of 3.7 million tonnes. Imports of wheat are forecast at 1.7 million tonnes, 9 percent above the average, driven by strong domestic demand for bread and bakery products, attributed to population growth and a year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals. Imports of rice in the 2024 calendar year are forecast to rise to 1.8 million tonnes, due to the reduced 2024 domestic production.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .