The plantation and commodities sector, comprising oil palm, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper and tobacco has contributed significantly to the country’s economic development for the past 50 years. Since then, the sector has become one of Malaysia’s major exports earnings. Exports values of these commodities and commodity based products in 2009 was RM 91.1 billion, constituted 16.48 per cent of total export earnings.

The remunerative price of commodities throughout 2009 has benefited the country, in particular the smallholders. The future of plantation industries and commodities sector remains bright and promises a lot of opportunities.