Palm oil, also from both plantations and smallholders, is another major commercial crop. Rice has been cultivated in the region for centuries and remains a staple food item. Most rice cultivators are Malay peasant farmers on smallholdings. Annual production of rice at 1.8 million tons represents 80 to 85 percent of national self-sufficiency. Bananas, cacao, pineapples, and tobacco are also grown.
Tropical timber is exported.
Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah share more or less equally in this form of trade. Malaysia is one of the world's leading tin producers. Like most primary products, tin faces an uncertain future. Quotas are in force to restrict production. In 1993 Malaysia produced an estimated 10,000 tons of tin.