10/06/2025

BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | JUNE 10, 2025

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Foreign investors pull RM6b from Asian markets

as City Super, BHG and ALDI. Beyond the F&B segment, co conut by-products such as coconut shells have industrial use, including in the production of activated carbon for airpurifiers. Heng said,“PTRB is actively exploring B2B collaborations with Chinese distri butors and manufacturers, including opportunities for private-label pro duction and OEM services as part of our localisation strategy. We also aim to leverage on Fujian’s export infra structure to access Asean markets, and will participate in trade exhi bitions such as the China Food and Drinks Fair.” On the supply side, PTRB is in the process of securing consistent supplies of mature coconuts from Indonesia, one of the world’s leading coconut producers. These arrange ments will ensure a steady supply of coconuts to meet the anticipated demand, he said. understanding for agrifood imports, seeking to rebalance trade and nudge the US towards reducing tariffs. “Thailand posted the smallest net outflow at US$72.7 million, exten ding its foreign selling streak to three weeks. The government unveiled a US$405 million tourism stimulus package aimed at reviving visitor arrivals, particularly from China,” it added. On the domestic front, MIDF Amanah said foreign net selling on Bursa Malaysia eased to RM3387.4 million, smaller than sharply the previous week’s outflow of RM1.02 billion. Foreign investors were net sellers on every trading day, with outflows ranging from RM5.4 million to RM162.83 million, with the largest outflow recorded on Wednesday at RM162.8 million, followed by Tuesday at RM121.2 million. MIDF Amanah said the top three sectors recording the highest net foreign inflows were telecommuni cations and media (RM16.4 million), technology (RM16.2 million) and property (RM8.0 million). “The top three sectors that recorded the highest net foreign outflows were financial services (RM193.1 million), healthcare (RM130.9 million) and plantation (RM40.4 million),” it said. Local institutions continued their buying activities, with net inflows amounting to RM444.6 million, while local retailers reversed their two-week buying streak, recording an outflow of RM57.3 million. MIDF Amanah added that the average daily trading volume experienced a broad-based decline last week, with local institutions and local retailers seeing decreases of 8.1% and 15.8%, respectively, while foreign investors saw a plunge of 29.1%. – Bernama

PETALING JAYA: PT Resources Holdings Bhd (PTRB), which is involved in the processing and trading of frozen seafood products as well as trading of meat and non-meat products, has established a coconut processing facility under its wholly owned subsidiary, Fujian HJS International Holdings Co Ltd. The facility is located in the China Indonesia Food Industrial Park in Fuqing City, Fujian Province, China. PTRB is the first wholly foreign owned enterprise to set up a coconut processing operation within the park and in China. With this development, the Group is broadening their food processing capabilities to include coconut-based products. The new facility is equip ped to produce a wide range of value-added products such as frozen coconut water, frozen coconut milk, desiccated coconut, and other derivatives, capturing the complete KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors extended their net selling in Asian markets for a third consecutive week, recording an outflow of RM6.21 billion, or US$1.47 billion, significantly higher than the previous week’s outflow of US$170.8 million (RM723.4 million). MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd’s Fund Flow Report for the week ended June 6 said that only South Korea and the Philippines registered net foreign inflows, while all other countries saw net outflows. South Korea led the region with a strong net inflow of US$1.8 billion, extending its foreign buying streak to two weeks, despite weak macro economic data showing its gross domestic product (GDP) growth flat on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025) and a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter contraction. The economic downturn follows political instability earlier this year, including the imposition of martial law and the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. “Newly inaugurated President Lee Jae-myung wasted no time in rolling out a US$22 billion emer gency stimulus plan to address the economic malaise. “Lee’s administration, backed by a strong parliamentary majority, is also racing to install a full cabinet while navigating legal probes into Yoon’s conduct, and the president has pledged swift fiscal intervention to aid households and jumpstart growth, which the Bank of Korea has revised down to 0.8% for 2025,” the report said. o Net selling picks up, enters third successive week

Proton e.MAS 7 now available in Trinidad and Tobago The country is the second international market for the model and comes three months after its international debut in Nepal. PETALING JAYA: Proton Holdings Bhd’s international sales division (ISD) has launched its first electric vehicle, the Proton e.MAS 7, in Trinidad and Tobago. The country is the second international market for the model and comes three months after its international debut in Nepal. Launched in Malaysia in De cember last year, the e.MAS 7 is already the company’s third most popular export model, behind the Proton Saga and Proton X50. Held at the capital city of Port of Spain, the launch event was officiated and witnessed by Ansa Motors Ltd sector head Jean-Marc Mouttet, and Ansa MCAL Ltd new business development general manager Alexander Sabga. Motors is Proton’s official distri butor in the dual island Caribbean nation. In conjunction with the launch and to better serve its growing EV customer base, Ansa Motors un veiled a new, state-of-the-art EV showroom at The City of Grand Bazaar. The new facility will offer customers to explore its EV lineup, learn about EV technology and receive specialised support. Building on the entry of the Proton X50 and Proton X90 into the Trinidad and Tobago market last year, this launch further reinforces Proton’s continuous efforts in global ex pansion and bringing advanced automotive technology to its export markets. To date, 481 units of Proton vehicles have been exported to the country, which has a population of approximately 1.4 million. These include 271 units of the Proton X50, 141 units of the Proton X90 and 44 units of the Proton Saga. “Proton’s journey with the e.MAS 7 into the Trinidadian market is a significant moment for the company. It strongly reflects our commitment to leading the adoption of EVs in the nation and marks another pivotal step in our international expansion. This also clearly demonstrates Proton’s dedication to leading the charge for EV adoption in our export portfolio and we can’t wait to roll it out to additional export markets such as Mauritius and Singapore later this year,” said Proton International sales division director Edmund Lim Meng Thong.

A monitor displays the benchmark Kospi index and the tech-heavy Kosdaq index in picture taken in August 2024. Last week, only the South Korean and the Philippine stock markets registered net foreign inflows, while all other countries saw net outflows. – AFPPIC

billion. The China market is projected to grow to US$3.6 billion (RM15.2 billion) by 2030 and China is expected to remain a key player in the Asia-Pacific region. PTRB managing director Heng Chang Hooi said: “We are optimistic about the growing demand for coconut-based products in China, supported by its large population of 1.4 billion, rising interest for plant based diets, and increasing demand for dairy alternatives. The popularity of coconut milk in coffee chains and specialty beverage outlets reflects this trend. “There is also a surge in demand for coconut water and coconut milk, attributed to greater health aware ness and preference for natural, low sugar beverages.” Additionally, coconut-based dairy alternatives such as coconut yogurt are gaining popularity, with brands such as Yeyo on Tmall and in retail outlets such billion, ending its single-week streak of foreign buying. “The Reserve Bank of India surprised markets with a 50 basis points rate cut to 5.5%, citing subdued inflation and the need to support growth amid escalating US trade barriers,” it said. Indonesia experienced a net outflow of US$288.4 million, ending its three-week streak of inflows. MIDF Amanah said the country’s weak Q1 2025 GDP growth of 4.87% prompted the government to roll out a US$1.5 billion stimulus package targeting tourism, social aid and cash transfers. “Vietnam posted a fourth straight week of foreign withdrawals with US$80.4 million in outflows. During a US visit, Vietnam signed US$3 billion worth of memoranda of

potential of the coconut fruit. The group is investing about RMB29 million (equivalent to about RM17 million) for the facility. This investment is funded entirely with internally generated funds. Trial production is under way, and com-mercial opera tions are expected to commence by the middle of this month. In the initial phase, the group will focus on supplying frozen and dried coconut products to business-to business (B2B) customers such as food and beverage (F&B) manu facturers within Fujian Province and nearby regions. Fujian is strategically positioned as one of China’s key import and processing hubs for mature coconuts, serving a wide network of F&B manufacturers within a 700km radius of the group’s facility. According to Grand View Re search, China accounted for 10.2% of the global coconut product market in 2022, generating a revenue of US$2.1 Meanwhile, MIDF Amanah noted that the Philippines recorded the second-highest inflow of US$9.8 million, reversing three consecutive weeks of foreign outflows. Regarding outflows, Taiwan posted the largest net outflow in the region at US$1.72 billion, marking its third straight week of foreign selling. MIDF Amanah opined that geo political tensions remained elevated as Taiwan accused China of conducting “highly provocative” joint combat readiness patrols involving 21 military aircraft and warships, and the continued escalation has put foreign investors on edge despite Taiwan’s strategic dominance in the semiconductor sector. It stated that India reversed into a net outflow territory of US$1.02

PT Resources expands capabilities with coconut processing facility in Fujian, China