Market Openings for Brazil in Malaysia and the Republic of Korea

The Brazilian government has concluded phytosanitary negotiations with Malaysia and the Republic of Korea, resulting in the opening of their markets to a new range of Brazilian agricultural products. Malaysia has authorized the import of DDG (distillers dried grains), while the Republic of Korea has approved imports of macaúba almonds and pecans. 

In Malaysia, authorities granted access for DDG — a high-value co-product of grain-based ethanol production, especially corn, notable for its high protein, energy, and phosphorus content. Widely used in cattle, swine, and poultry feed formulations, DDG now joins a growing list of Brazilian products authorized for export to Malaysia. In 2024, the country of more than 35 million people imported US$1.2 billion in agricultural goods from Brazil. 

This new approval complements Malaysia’s recent market openings for wild-caught and farmed fish, apples, melons, egg powder, and sesame. Together, these authorizations strengthen a diversified export agenda capable of meeting both the processed food industry and the needs of the country’s expanding food service and tourism sectors. 

In the Republic of Korea, officials approved the import of macaúba almonds and pecans. Macaúba is a native Brazilian palm species whose oil-rich pulp and almonds are used in food, cosmetics, and energy. Pecans, meanwhile, represent 3% to 4% of the global nut and kernel market. The pecan sector in Brazil is expanding rapidly, with production concentrated in the southern states. The country is currently the world’s fourth-largest producer, behind the United States, Mexico, and South Africa. 

In 2024, the Republic of Korea imported over US$2.8 billion in Brazilian agribusiness products, mainly grains, meats, and oilseeds. The new market openings for macaúba almonds and pecans further strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase the presence of higher value-added Brazilian products in a highly competitive and sophisticated market. These approvals also build on earlier Korean authorizations for sesame and bovine leather. 

By expanding its portfolio of destinations and exportable goods — from animal feed ingredients to products linked to the emerging bioeconomy — Brazil reinforces its position as a reliable global supplier while creating new opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses across the country. 

With these announcements, Brazilian agribusiness has reached 491 new market openings since the beginning of 2023. 

These results reflect the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE). 


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