Malaysian firm thrives in China's saline-alkali soil

YINCHUAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Under the spring sun in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China, a once-barren stretch of saline-alkali land now shimmers with rows of greenhouses -- over 250 structures stretching like azure waves across the landscape.

Inside one of them, Tian Tao, 43, checked a pond of water slowly turning green. "In a few days, it'll be deep emerald, ready for harvest," he said, testing the temperature with his fingers.

This is no ordinary crop. It is spirulina, a nutrient-rich algae, cultivated by DXN Corporation (Ningxia) Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia's DXN Holdings. What was once deemed infertile ground has been transformed into a production base feeding global demand for health foods, supplements and cosmetics.

For DXN, this barren landscape offered hidden potential. "Spirulina thrives in high-temperature, saline-alkali conditions. Ningxia's dry climate, abundant sunlight, and large day-night temperature differences make it ideal," explained Pong Vui Mei, the company's operations director and a Malaysian Chinese.

"Here, we can harvest every five days. Output in just a few months rivals what we'd produce in Malaysia in a full year," she said.

The venture began in 2015, when Malaysian entrepreneurs scouting opportunities via the China-Arab States Expo identified Ningxia's saline-alkali lands as perfect for spirulina farming. Since then, the company has leased 1,000 mu (about 67 hectares) of such land, built more than 250 smart-controlled greenhouses, and developed locally adapted algae strains.

Today, the Ningxia base is DXN Holdings's largest spirulina production site, with an annual output of 200 tonnes of spirulina powder. Processed into tablets, coffee, instant noodles and other products, these goods are sold to over 20 countries and regions.

According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, the trade volume between China and Malaysia reached 191.667 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years.

Pong said sound infrastructure, efficient logistics, stable energy supply, and a business-friendly environment are the reasons behind the company's decision to choose China. In the city of Shizuishan, the company benefits from tax incentives, talent policies, R&D support, and transportation subsidies.

"But the key is China's complete industrial chain," she emphasized. "Everything we need is available. From designing and installing fully automated production lines to maintenance, it's all seamless. That's hard to replicate elsewhere."

In the company's instant noodle workshop, a custom-built automated line produces 10,000 noodle cakes daily with minimal human intervention. "It ensures efficiency, quality, and safety -- exactly what global customers expect," says Pong.

In 2018, the company expanded to Anxi in east China's Fujian Province, a famous oolong tea region, developing tea-based beverages for export.

It has also begun processing local Ningxia specialties such as goji berries and apples into fermented sparkling drinks, which are shipped to markets in Bolivia and Argentina.

"By leveraging local agricultural strengths, we're also contributing to rural vitalization," Pong noted.

The spirulina operation has created jobs for about 150 locals like Tian Tao, who, after a decade at the base, has become a skilled technician earning over 7,000 yuan (about 1,014 U.S. dollars) a month. Pong herself spends most of the year in Ningxia, blending into the local culture while steering the company's growth.

With sales volume rising steadily at an average annual rate of 20 percent, the Ningxia subsidiary recorded sales of 60 million yuan in 2025. Orders are already booked until October this year.

"Our target is to exceed 100 million yuan in sales this year," Pong said. "More than 90 percent of our products are exported, but we're now accelerating our entry into the Chinese domestic market."

"To circle the world and return to China is not just a slogan," she said. "It's a strategy we're already putting into action."