16
16
MIHAS 2026
@ Halal | September-October. 2026
From showcase to exports
� MATRADE is leading the way in opening international markets and strengthening the export potential of local businesses.
� MIHAS is expanding Malaysia’ s international trade reach through overseas showcases and sourcing programmes.
� The RM80 billion export target signals Malaysia’ s ambition to build on its growing international trade presence.
EXPANDING REACH: Over the years, MIHAS has evolved from a consumer fair into an international trade platform, connecting Malaysian businesses with global buyers and markets.
Malaysia is looking to turn its established halal credentials into stronger export growth as the global Islamic economy expands and thousands of certified local companies remain outside international markets.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation( MATRADE) has been appointed the lead agency for promoting Malaysian halal product exports, following a decision by the Halal Industry Development Council meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister on Jan 29, 2026.
The move places market access at the centre of efforts to strengthen the country’ s halal export performance.
Data for 2025 show Malaysia’ s halal exports reached RM68.52 billion, equivalent to 4.3 per cent of total national exports of RM1.61 trillion. Yet the figures also point to room for expansion: of 10,638 companies with halal status, only 1,563, or 14.7 per cent, were halal exporters. Another 9,075 certified companies had not yet exported.
FOCUSING ON ACCESS Food and beverages led the export base, generating RM36.86 billion in 2025, followed by halal ingredients at RM21.39 billion and palm oil derivatives at RM4.57 billion.
Cosmetics and personal care products contributed RM3.68 billion, while pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry recorded RM1.12 billion and RM0.90 billion respectively.
China was the largest destination, taking RM9 billion in Malaysian halal exports, followed by Singapore at RM7.11 billion. The United States accounted for RM4.46 billion, Japan RM4.22 billion, and Indonesia RM3.51 billion.
The wider opportunity extends beyond food. MATRADE’ s MIHAS 2026 briefing describes halal industries as covering food and beverages, media and recreation, modest fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and Muslim-friendly travel. The global Islamic economy was valued at US $ 2.6 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach US $ 3.6 trillion by 2029.
Malaysia’ s position provides a platform for that expansion. The country has ranked first in the Global Islamic Economy Indicator for 12 consecutive years, according to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2025 / 2026.
Its core capabilities span halal food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, Islamic finance, media and recreation, modest fashion and Muslim-friendly travel.
BUILDING EXPORT LINKS MIHAS, organised by MATRADE, is positioned as a mechanism to connect Malaysian businesses with
RM36.26 BILLION international buyers and support the internationalisation of halal products and services.
Since beginning in 2004, the showcase has evolved from a consumer fair into an international trade event.
Cumulative figures for 2004-2025 record RM36.26 billion in sales, 17,894 booths, 578,431 visitors, 7,825 International Sourcing Programme buyers and participation from 10,619 Malaysian companies.
The 2025 edition generated RM6.05 billion in total sales, including RM3.63 billion through the International Sourcing Programme and RM0.53 billion through the Hosted Buyer Programme.
For 2026, MIHAS is targeting RM5 billion in sales, with 2,400 booths, 1,700 exhibitors and 45 participating countries.
Its International Sourcing Programme is planned around 250 physical buyers, 150 virtual buyers and 50 premium buyers, while the Hosted Buyer Programme includes 50 Malaysian distributors, 100 international sellers and 200 business meetings. The showcase is scheduled for Sep 23-26, 2026.
CUMULATIVE OUTCOME 2004- 2025
LOOKING OUTWARD MIHAS’ s internationalisation strategy has also taken the showcase beyond Malaysia. MIHAS @ Dubai in 2024 recorded RM2.20 billion in total sales, while MIHAS @ Shanghai in 2025 recorded RM3.2 billion, including RM1.33 billion from its International Sourcing Programme, with 1,200 business meetings involving 120 buyers from 12 countries.
For Malaysia’ s halal sector, the export challenge is therefore not simply about producing more certified goods. The figures suggest a parallel task: helping more halal-certified companies become exporters and connecting them with markets where demand can translate into sustained trade.
With the country targeting RM80 billion in halal exports under the 13th Malaysia Plan for 2026-2030, a figure projected to contribute 11 per cent to Malaysia’ s gross domestic product, MATRADE’ s expanded export-promotion role and MIHAS’ s buyer-focused platforms will help close that gap.
17,894 578,431 7,825 10,619
TOTAL SALES BOOTHS VISITORS INSP BUYERS
MALAYSIAN COMPANIES