MALAYSIA’S bird’s nest industry is seeing steady growth as demand for health products soars during a pandemic, said business groups.

They said consumers believe in the health-giving properties of the bird’s nest, a traditional Chinese health supplement, and that exports to China have risen by 20% since Covid-19 surfaced last year.

Malaysia Association of Bird’s Nest Import and Export chairman Chua Huai Gen said China imported significantly more of the item in 2020 compared to the year before.

“The volume of imported bird’s nests to China from around the region has doubled from 183,000kg in 2019 to 336,800 kg in 2020.

“This shows that consumers still have confidence in the bird’s nest medicinal value.”

Chua said there were various reasons for the increased demand in China.

“First, consumers are confident about the quality of the bird’s nest as it has gone through stringent inspection.

“Second, consumers are taking bird’s nest as a health supplement during the pandemic.”

Data from the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine shows China imported 3,000kg of bird’s nest in 2014, 10,000kg in 2015, 15,000kg in 2016, 25,000kg in 2017, 33,000kg in 2018, 5,000kg in 2019, and 69,000kg in 2020.

However, Chua said there was a slight drop in sales during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) last year as exports were affected by border blockades and transportation restrictions.

“The volume of bird’s nest exports to China in March last year was 3,000kg. It dropped to 2,000kg in April and then it started to pick up from September with 8,000kg to November with 8,900kg.”

He said China was strictly against the smuggling of the item into the country.

“Chinese customs have cracked down on the smuggling of bird’s nests during the pandemic and prevented the smuggling of sea cucumbers, shark’s fin and bird’s nests in 2020.

“Currently, the Chinese government imports bird’s nest from 34 companies in Malaysia, 23 companies in Indonesia, and two companies in Thailand.”

Worker shortage

Malaysia Federation of Bird’s Nest Merchants Association president Allen Tan said exports are stable.

“The pandemic did not have much effect on export orders and sales volume has not fallen much.

“Bird’s nest is a health supplement and with the pandemic, many are taking it to boost their health.

“Currently the export of bird’s nests is stable with a 20% increase.”

Tan said exports began picking up after March last year.

“Bird’s nests were also being sold online and the demand was there.

“The International Trade and Industry Ministry also allowed the industry to operate during the MCO.”

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While business is good, producers face a shortage of workers, he said.

“One processing factory requires 100 people, and for 10 factories, that’s 1,000 people.

“We are hoping to recruit more locals to do the work of processing the bird’s nest while there is a ban on recruitment of foreign workers.”

Tan said it was not easy persuading Malaysians to take up the job because of the salary expectaions.

“We are hoping that locals will join.

They can contact our federation. We will provide training. Workers can earn about RM2,000 a month with overtime.”

Chua agreed there is a need for skilled workers.

“In the past three months, my processing plant has hired 100 locals but now there are only 10 left.

“We need more workers as there are many orders. With the lack of manpower we can only cope with the current orders and dare not accept large orders.”

He said the industry is short of 10,000 workers. – February 6, 2021.