Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd

Bill of Lading Data — Almond Shipments

The following bill of lading records document confirmed almond kernel shipments imported by Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd from Cong Ty TNHH Thuc Pham An Khanh (An Khanh Food Products Co., Ltd), a Vietnamese food processing and packaging company. These trade records provide valuable intelligence for businesses seeking to understand Mydin's sourcing patterns, import volumes, and supplier relationships in the almond supply chain serving the Malaysian market.

About Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd

Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad (MYDIN) is Malaysia's largest home-grown halal hypermarket, supermarket, and wholesale retail chain. Founded on 5 August 1957 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan — the very same year Malaysia achieved independence — the company's origins trace back even further to 1918 on Penang Island, where the founder's father, Gulam Husen Jamal, operated a small trading shop. Over the course of more than six decades, Mydin has grown from a humble single shop into a nationwide retail empire that serves millions of Malaysian consumers every day.

Today, Mydin operates a comprehensive network of over 73 outlets across Malaysia, encompassing 28 hypermarkets alongside supermarkets, emporiums, convenience stores, bazaar outlets, and franchised locations. The company generates annual revenues of approximately RM 3 billion (over USD $565 million) and employs thousands of workers across its retail, wholesale, and logistics operations. Mydin's headquarters are located at the Mydin Hyper Mall in Subang Jaya, Selangor, at the heart of Malaysia's most developed commercial corridor.

What truly distinguishes Mydin in the competitive Malaysian retail landscape is its unwavering commitment to the halal retail concept. As a Muslim-majority nation with a population that is approximately 60% Muslim, Malaysia's consumer market has a strong preference for halal-certified products. Mydin capitalizes on this demand by ensuring that every product on its shelves carries proper halal certification, making it the trusted retail destination for Malaysia's Muslim consumers and for the growing international demand for halal products. This positioning has made Mydin not only a domestic retail leader but also a significant player in the global halal economy.

Malaysia Almond Import Market Overview

Malaysia is recognized as a significant importer of almonds in the Southeast Asian region, with demand that has been steadily increasing over the past decade. The country's growing appetite for almonds is driven by multiple converging factors: rising health consciousness among Malaysian consumers, an expanding middle class with greater purchasing power, the proliferation of modern retail channels making premium nuts more accessible, and the versatility of almonds in both traditional and contemporary culinary applications across Malaysia's diverse food culture.

According to World Bank WITS and UN Comtrade data, Malaysia's shelled almond imports reached approximately USD $18.1 million in 2023, representing roughly 3,794 metric tons of product. The average import price per metric ton has been trending upward, reflecting global supply-demand dynamics and the premium quality preferences of Malaysian buyers. The broader tree nut import category — which includes walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and other varieties — totaled approximately USD $196 million in 2022, underscoring the scale of Malaysia's nut import ecosystem.

Key Supplier Nations

The United States dominates Malaysia's shelled almond market with an approximately 85% market share, exporting over USD $32 million in tree nuts to Malaysia annually. California's Central Valley — the world's most productive almond-growing region — serves as the primary origin for these exports. Australia holds the position of the second-largest supplier, leveraging its proximity to Southeast Asia, competitive freight costs, and high-quality almond production to capture a growing share of the market. Spain, the third-largest global almond exporter, also supplies the Malaysian market, particularly for premium European-style almond varieties favored by specialty food retailers and confectionery manufacturers.

HS Code Classification for Almonds

The bill of lading records for Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd classify the imported almond kernel products under HS Code 8021290. Understanding this classification is essential for trade data analysis, customs compliance, and market research. The Harmonized System (HS) code provides a standardized international framework for categorizing traded goods, and Malaysia uses the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN), which is aligned with the international HS system but may include additional digits for greater specificity.

The distinction between almonds in shell (HS 0802.11) and shelled almonds (HS 0802.12) is significant for trade analysis. Shelled almonds represent the vast majority of Malaysia's almond imports, as they are the preferred form for both retail consumption and food processing applications. Almonds in shell are imported in smaller quantities, primarily for cultural and religious purposes — particularly during Ramadan and Hari Raya celebrations — and for certain specialty retail applications where whole in-shell almonds are valued for their visual presentation and perceived freshness.

Import Regulations & Compliance

The importation of almonds into Malaysia is governed by a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to protect food safety, agricultural biosecurity, and consumer health. All almond importers operating in Malaysia must comply with the requirements of multiple government agencies, each responsible for a distinct aspect of the import clearance process. Understanding these regulations is critical for international suppliers seeking to enter the Malaysian almond market and for domestic buyers like Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd who must ensure full compliance for every shipment.

Key Regulatory Bodies

• MAQIS (Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services) — The primary agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security responsible for quarantine inspection and import permits for all agricultural products, including almonds. Every almond shipment entering Malaysia requires a valid MAQIS import permit and must undergo inspection at the point of entry.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) — Sets overarching agricultural import policy, facilitates trade, and coordinates inter-agency processes for agricultural commodity imports.
• JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) — Issues halal certification for food products sold in Malaysia. While raw almonds are naturally halal, processed and packaged almond products require JAKIM halal certification or equivalent accreditation for retail distribution through halal-certified retailers like Mydin.
• Royal Malaysian Customs (JKDM) — Handles tariff classification, duty assessment, and customs clearance for all imported goods, including almonds. Almonds typically attract low customs duties (0-5%) under Malaysia's MFN tariff schedule and ASEAN free trade agreements.
• Ministry of Health (MOH) — Enforces food safety standards under the Malaysian Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, ensuring imported almonds meet necessary quality and safety requirements.

Malaysia Almond Market Trends

Malaysia's almond market is experiencing a period of dynamic growth and transformation, driven by evolving consumer preferences, expanding retail infrastructure, and global supply chain developments. Understanding these trends is essential for international almond suppliers seeking to penetrate the Malaysian market and for domestic retailers like Mydin who must anticipate shifting consumer demands to maintain their competitive position.

Growing Health Consciousness

Malaysian consumers are increasingly health-conscious, with a growing awareness of the nutritional benefits of almonds — including their high protein content, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber, vitamin E, and magnesium content. This health-driven demand is propelling almond consumption across all demographic segments, from health enthusiasts to families seeking nutritious snack options for children. The rise of fitness culture, social media health influencers, and government health awareness campaigns has further amplified this trend.

Seasonal Demand Patterns

Almond consumption in Malaysia exhibits pronounced seasonal peaks that align with the country's major cultural and religious celebrations. During Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, demand for almonds surges significantly as they are a popular ingredient in festive baking, gift hampers, and traditional sweets. Chinese New Year drives another major demand peak, with almonds being a staple component of dried fruit and nut gift boxes exchanged among families and business associates. Deepavali, celebrated by Malaysia's Indian-Malaysian community, creates additional demand for almonds in traditional sweets and snack preparations. These seasonal patterns create predictable procurement cycles for major importers like Mydin.

Retail Channel Evolution

The expansion of modern retail formats — hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores — has made premium almond products more accessible to Malaysian consumers than ever before. Mydin's network of 73+ outlets plays a crucial role in this distribution ecosystem, particularly in reaching Malaysia's Malay-Muslim consumer base with halal-certified almond products. Simultaneously, the rapid growth of e-commerce platforms — including Mydin's own online store, Shopee, and Lazada — is expanding direct-to-consumer access and creating new opportunities for almond suppliers to reach Malaysian buyers.

Supplier Analysis — An Khanh Food Products

The bill of lading data reveals that Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd sourced its recorded almond kernel shipments from Cong Ty TNHH Thuc Pham An Khanh (An Khanh Food Products Co., Ltd), a Vietnam-based food processing and packaging company. This sourcing pattern is notable because it suggests that Mydin's almond supply chain may involve value-added processing intermediaries rather than direct imports from primary almond-producing countries like the United States or Australia.

Vietnam has developed a significant food processing and re-export industry, where raw agricultural commodities imported from major producing countries are processed, packaged into consumer-friendly formats, and re-exported to markets across Southeast Asia. In the context of these almond shipments, it appears that An Khanh Food Products imported bulk almond kernels, processed them into retail-ready packages (200g and 450g carton formats), and exported the finished products to Mydin for distribution through Malaysia's largest halal retail network. This intermediary processing model offers advantages in terms of packaging localization, cost optimization, and supply chain flexibility.

Why This Trade Data Matters

Bill of lading data serves as a powerful tool for international trade intelligence, enabling businesses to make informed decisions about market entry, supplier selection, competitive positioning, and partnership opportunities. The shipment records documenting Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd's almond imports provide actionable insights for multiple stakeholder groups in the global almond trade.

For Almond Suppliers & Exporters

International almond producers and exporters can use this data to identify Mydin's sourcing patterns, understand the types of almond products (pack sizes, packaging formats, processing levels) that Mydin imports, and assess the competitive landscape by identifying existing supplier relationships. This intelligence enables suppliers to tailor their product offerings, pricing strategies, and partnership proposals to Mydin's specific procurement needs.

For Trade Analysts & Market Researchers

The bill of lading records contribute to a broader understanding of Malaysia's almond import ecosystem, revealing the role of intermediary processors (like Vietnam-based An Khanh Food Products) in the supply chain, the volume and frequency of shipments, and the trade routes utilized. When combined with aggregate import statistics, individual transaction records provide granular detail that helps paint a complete picture of market dynamics.

For Competitors & Market Entrants

Competing retail chains and new market entrants can analyze Mydin's import patterns to benchmark their own sourcing strategies, identify potential alternative suppliers, and uncover market segments or product categories that may be underserved. The data also reveals the complexity of the almond supply chain — moving from primary producers (US, Australia) through processing intermediaries (Vietnam) to end retailers (Malaysia) — highlighting potential opportunities for supply chain optimization and disintermediation.

Data Sources & Disclaimer

The bill of lading records presented on this page are based on publicly available trade documentation data. Trade data and specific import trends may vary over time as new shipments are recorded. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Malaysia's almond imports, it is recommended to consult official sources including the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the World Bank WITS/UN Comtrade database, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service trade reports, and relevant trade organizations involved in the almond industry such as the Almond Board of California and the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC).

Malaysia's import data is subject to the regulatory frameworks maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS). These regulations ensure that imported almonds meet the necessary quality and safety standards required for distribution in the Malaysian market. All importers, including Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, must comply with these requirements for every shipment entering Malaysian territory.