Sashidaran Gunathevan
Daiso has opened its largest global distribution centre Malaysia facility in Pulau Indah, Selangor. The RM1.2 billion hub will sort, store and repack goods for 27 countries across Asia and the Middle East.
The centre is now Daiso’s biggest warehouse worldwide. It covers 133,666 square metres, or about 1.4 million square feet, and exceeds the size of the retailer’s facility in Hiroshima, Japan.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the opening on 5 November. He said the investment reflects confidence in Malaysia’s economic stability, infrastructure and long-term potential.
What the Pulau Indah hub will do
The Daiso global distribution centre Malaysia will act as the company’s main inbound and outbound logistics hub. It will connect production networks in Japan, China and other international supplier markets to customers in 27 countries.
Goods arriving at the facility will be sorted, stored and repacked before being sent overseas. Daiso expects the hub to handle more than 1,000 containers of household, stationery and lifestyle products at any one time.
The facility sits beside Port Klang, one of the world’s 10 busiest container ports. Port Klang handled a record 15.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units last year.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the location links sea freight, road transport and automated warehousing. He described it as an example of the National Transport Policy in action.
Opportunities for Malaysian suppliers
Anwar said the hub could help more Malaysian-made products reach Daiso shelves worldwide. He said local manufacturers and suppliers may use the retailer’s distribution network to expand into international markets.
The government hopes the centre will support the New Industrial Master Plan 2030. Its aim is to move Malaysia beyond handling cargo volumes towards higher-value logistics activities.
Daiso has also signed a memorandum of understanding with PKT Logistics (M) Sdn Bhd. The partnership covers integrated warehousing management, regional freight forwarding and end-to-end supply-chain support.
PKT provides customs brokerage, trade facilitation, freight forwarding, warehousing and transport services. The collaboration is intended to deepen local participation in Daiso’s regional supply chain.
Daiso: Jobs, technology and local impact
The centre uses an automated storage and retrieval system and smart logistics technology. These systems are designed to improve sorting accuracy, inventory turnaround and fulfilment speed.
Loke said the technology could help train Malaysian workers for specialised roles. These include logistics engineers, system specialists and global supply-chain leaders.
Anwar said the investment should create skilled employment rather than only increase trade volumes. He added that local hauliers and PKT Logistics are already involved in warehousing, freight and distribution operations.
The facility was completed ahead of schedule and below budget. Anwar credited Daiso, its contractors and Malaysia’s public-service delivery system for the outcome.
What shoppers may notice
The hub handles Daiso-branded household goods, stationery, personal-care items, cleaning products and lifestyle merchandise. Products processed in Pulau Indah may eventually reach markets including Dubai, Manila and São Paulo.
For Malaysian shoppers, the immediate effect is likely to be behind the scenes. A larger regional distribution base could support steadier product supply and faster replenishment across Daiso stores.
For local businesses, the bigger opportunity is export access. Suppliers that meet Daiso’s requirements may gain a route into markets across Asia and the Middle East.
Shoppers and suppliers should watch for further announcements on local sourcing, warehouse jobs and Daiso’s regional distribution plans.
Yalinie Mathan
Admin
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