KUALA LUMPUR – A Chinese agricultural hub that exported more than RMB40 million (RM27.5 million) worth of produce to Malaysia in the first nine months of 2026 is looking to deepen trade ties with the Southeast Asian country, as it seeks to expand its international market reach.
Lanling County in Linyi City, Shandong Province, recorded more than RMB500 million in agricultural exports between January and September this year, with Malaysia accounting for a significant share of its overseas shipments.
Its main exports include garlic, burdock, fresh vegetables and processed fruit and vegetable products, which are also supplied to markets such as Japan, South Korea, the United States and other Southeast Asian countries.
Against this backdrop, a 23-member Malaysian delegation comprising media representatives, digital content creators and young scholars visited Lanling on October 26 to explore opportunities for greater agricultural cooperation and bilateral trade.
Led by Li Xiaoyan, director of the Integrated Media Centre of the Malaysia-China Trade & Economic Advancement Association (MCTEAA), the delegation was received by Wang Kangliang, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Lanling County Committee, alongside local government officials and business representatives.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Malaysian participants to assess Lanling’s agricultural capabilities, particularly in food processing, smart farming, modern horticulture and the supply of agricultural products to overseas markets.
Located in southern Shandong, Lanling has a history spanning more than 2,300 years and is recognised as one of China’s major vegetable-producing regions and agricultural export centres.
Over the years, the county has developed an integrated agricultural industry encompassing cultivation, food processing, technological innovation and logistics, strengthening its capacity to serve domestic and international markets.
Exploring opportunities across the agricultural supply chain
The delegation began its programme at the Lanling County Public-Interest Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, where members were briefed on local vegetable production, food safety controls and distribution networks.
After watching an English-language presentation on the county’s vegetable industry, they toured the market’s exhibition hall and rapid-testing facilities, gaining insights into the systems used to monitor agricultural produce before it reaches consumers.
At the Fruit and Vegetable Comprehensive Processing Centre, the visitors examined how local agricultural commodities are developed into higher-value products, including processed food, grain and oil products.
The programme also included a visit to the Fulu Huibao area, where the delegation explored craft production workshops and displays of premium cultural and creative products, offering a glimpse into how traditional industries are being developed commercially.
At Shandong Diyibang Food Technology Co Ltd, members observed the production of raw and cooked food products, including meat cutting, packaging and product development. They also sampled the company’s chicken products and fruit and vegetable juices.
The company’s halal certification was among the aspects highlighted during the visit, given its potential relevance to Malaysia’s sizeable halal food market.
Its food processing capabilities, research and development activities and ambitions to expand into overseas markets could provide opportunities for engagement with Malaysian food manufacturers, importers and distributors.
Smart farming and food innovation
The delegation’s programme also focused on agricultural technologies that could open avenues for knowledge-sharing and commercial cooperation.
At Shandong Lvwochuan Smart Agricultural Development Co Ltd and Shandong Kenyuan Modern Agricultural Development Co Ltd, members toured elevated strawberry cultivation facilities, automated vegetable production systems, seedling nurseries and smart glass greenhouses.
They were introduced to the use of automated environmental controls, factory-based planting systems and advanced seedling cultivation techniques to improve agricultural production.
The group subsequently visited Shandong New Green Ecological Technology Co Ltd, where it explored Phalaenopsis and Anthurium flower greenhouses, automated equipment facilities and a central control room overseeing greenhouse operations.
The visit showcased how smart technologies are being incorporated into modern floriculture, from cultivation and production management to packaging.
At the National Agricultural Park, the delegation was briefed on Lanling’s wider agricultural development, including efforts to combine farming with cultural and tourism activities.
Malaysia market presents room for expansion
Lanling’s existing export figures underline the importance of Malaysia as a destination for its agricultural products, while presenting opportunities to expand the range of goods traded between both sides.
Greater engagement with Malaysian importers, agricultural traders, food processing companies and industry organisations could help Lanling businesses establish stronger distribution networks and introduce more of their products to local consumers.
Zhao Fei, executive secretary of MCTEAA’s Integrated Media Centre, said the visit offered Malaysian media representatives, digital content creators and young scholars valuable first-hand exposure to China’s modern agricultural development.
He said the programme also created opportunities to strengthen information exchange, trade relations and economic cooperation between Malaysia and China.
Beyond agricultural exports, both sides could explore collaboration in smart farming, food processing and modern horticulture, potentially creating opportunities for technology exchange, investment and business partnerships.
With Malaysia already accounting for more than RMB40 million in Lanling’s agricultural exports in the first nine months of 2026, the county’s engagement with Malaysian stakeholders could provide a platform to build on an existing trade relationship and widen access to each other’s markets. – November 2, 2026