Sabah Remains as Malaysia’s Major Source of Cocoa

Sabah produces 60 per cent of the nation's cocoa output. In his message to the local cocoa industry, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that Sabah can continue to be a significant cocoa producer. At present, the land cultivation for cocoa planting is 3,000 hectares.

“I am heartened that 3,000 cocoa farmers in the districts of Ranau, Tenom, Kota Marudu, Keningau and Kuamut are benefiting from cocoa planting,” Hajiji said. “This is good progress for Sabah, and we must continue the trend and progress.” Hajiji added that the outlook for cocoa is excellent, citing a surge in international demand for Malaysia’s cocoa products, with export value hitting a record RM15.06 billion in 2024, which was three times the amount recorded for 2023.

Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan Hajiji - Deputy Chief Minister I / Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry – delivered Hajiji’s speech on 26 May 2025 at a Cocoa Gala Dinner held in conjunction with the Malaysian International Cocoa Fair 2025 (MICF 2025) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

Hajiji’s message is that Sabah must engage with investors to forge partnerships and investments to take advantage of Sabah’s strength as a significant cocoa producing state in Malaysia, and as a destination for business, tourism and culture.