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On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased
to present the Annual Report of Melewar
Industrial Group Berhad and its group of
companies ("the Group") for the financial year
ended 30 June 2026 ("FY2026").
OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
The Group's core operations remain anchored in the steel
industry, principally through its 74.13% stake in its listed
subsidiary, Mycron Steel Berhad ("Mycron"). Mycron's
principal activities comprise the manufacturing of Cold
Rolled Coil ("CRC") steel sheets and Steel Tubes and Pipes
("Steel Tube"), serving customers across domestic and
export markets.
Beyond steel, the Group continues to develop selected
non-steel businesses through its two wholly owned
subsidiaries:
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FY2026 was characterised by a challenging operating
environment, with geopolitical tensions, commodity price
volatility and persistent cost pressures affecting businesses
globally. In Malaysia, the expansion of the Sales and Services
Tax ("SST"), stricter enforcement of commercial vehicle
weight regulations and electricity tariff adjustments added
to the cost of doing business.
Against this backdrop, the Group delivered a significant
turnaround, recording a net profit of RM5.8 million
compared with a net loss of RM8.4 million in FY2025. Group
revenue increased by 6% to RM769.0 million from RM728.9
million, driven principally by stronger domestic steel sales.
Steel sales volume grew by 19% year-on-year, while unit
margins remained broadly stable.
Resilient domestic demand, particularly from the electrical
and electronics, automotive and metal fabrication segments,
helped offset weaker export demand, especially for CRC
products.
STEEL DIVISION
The Steel Division remains the principal contributor
to the Group and operates through three subsidiaries
within Mycron:
- Mycron Steel CRC Sdn Bhd ("MCRC"), which
operates in the midstream segment, converting
Hot Rolled Coil ("HRC") into thinner-gauge CRC
steel sheets;
- Melewar Steel Tube Sdn Bhd ("MST"), which
operates in the downstream segment,
manufacturing Steel Tubes from HRC or CRC; and
- Silver Victory Sdn Bhd ("SV"), which is principally
engaged in the trading of steel-related products.
The Steel Division navigated fluctuating demand, steel
prices and input costs throughout FY2026. Despite
these challenges, the Division maintained operational
resilience and ended the year on a stronger footing,
supported by robust domestic demand and improved
activity in the final quarter.
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STEEL DIVISION (CONT'D)
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The Division recorded revenue of RM203.1 million and
Profit Before Tax ("PBT") of RM5.6 million in the first quarter,
supported by strong domestic order intake and higher plant
utilisation. Domestic demand helped cushion the impact of
weaker CRC exports, although increasing trade barriers and
tariff uncertainties in the United States continued to exert
pressure on margins.
In the second quarter, revenue moderated by approximately
8% quarter-on-quarter to RM187.4 million, mainly due to
a 16% decline in CRC sales volume, partly offset by a 9%
increase in Steel Tube volume. Selling prices also softened
modestly across both segments. Despite the lower revenue,
operating profit remained broadly stable at RM5.7 million.
PBT and net profit were RM5.0 million and RM3.8 million
respectively, with the quarter also affected by a mark-to
market loss on investment holdings compared with a gain in
the preceding quarter.
The third quarter proved more challenging, with revenue
declining by 16% to RM157.6 million, partly due to the
shorter operating period arising from the festive holiday
calendar. Sales volumes across both CRC and Steel Tube
declined by double digits, while selling prices remained
under pressure. Operating profit consequently declined
to RM0.4 million, resulting in a marginal Loss Before Tax
("LBT") of RM0.1 million.
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The Division subsequently staged a strong recovery in the fourth quarter, with revenue
increasing by 37% quarter-on-quarter to RM215.9 million. CRC and Steel Tube sales volumes
increased by 46% and 24%, respectively, supported by the normalisation of operating days and
stronger market activity. Operating profit correspondingly improved to RM6.1 million from
RM0.4 million in the preceding quarter.
Throughout the year, the Division also continued to address import competition and evolving trade conditions
through engagement with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ("MITI"), including pursuing anti-dumping
proceedings and other appropriate trade remedy measures.
Overall, the Steel Division demonstrated resilience amid a challenging operating environment, with the strong
fourth-quarter recovery providing positive momentum heading into FY2027.
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FOOD DIVISION
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The Food Division, managed under 3Bumi, remains a relatively new and small component of the Group's overall portfolio.
The division's main activities involve:
- the importation of food products including beef, lamb
and turkey meat, value-added processing and packaging,
and their subsequent sale to Malaysian supermarkets
and retail outlets;
- the bottling of palm oil and its domestic and export sales,
as cooking oil; and
- the manufacturing and sale of pet food domestically.
During FY2026, the Division faced subdued market
conditions amid higher input and logistics costs, increased
price volatility and cautious purchasing behaviour.
Geopolitical developments and disruptions to international
trade added to supply chain pressures, while higher energy,
transportation and raw material costs continued to weigh
on operating conditions. Against this backdrop, revenue
declined by 29% year-on-year to RM4.8 million.
Despite the lower revenue, LBT improved modestly from
RM4.9 million in FY2025 to RM4.6 million in FY2026,
reflecting continued efforts to manage costs, improve
operational efficiency and exercise greater discipline in the
prevailing market conditions.
COMMITMENT TO GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors recognises that strong corporate
governance is fundamental to maintaining stakeholder
confidence and supporting the long-term sustainability
of the Group. We remain committed to conducting our
business with integrity, accountability and transparency, in
line with established corporate governance principles and
best practices.
The Board and senior management are committed to
upholding high standards of corporate governance and
business ethics across the Group's operations. Our
governance framework is supported by, among others, the
Board Charter, Terms of Reference for Board Committees,
Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy, Fit and Proper
Policy, Communication Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy,
and Corporate Disclosure Policies and Procedures.
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SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AND PROGRESS
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Sustainability remains integral to the
Group's long-term strategy, supporting
business resilience and competitiveness amid
evolving climate-related risks, regulatory
requirements and stakeholder expectations.
The Board retains ultimate responsibility
for the Group's sustainability and climate
related risks and opportunities, supported by
the Risk and Sustainability Committee.
In FY2026, the Steel Division established a climate
transition pathway towards Net Zero carbon emissions
by FY2050, supported by interim emissions reduction
targets. This commitment reflects the Division's efforts
to contribute to the objectives of the Paris Agreement
and applicable national net-zero ambitions. The Group's
sustainability priorities also take into account Malaysia's
broader transition towards a more sustainable and
competitive economy, including the National Energy
Transition Roadmap ("NETR"), the New Industrial
Master Plan 2030 ("NIMP 2030") and the Circular
Economy Policy Framework.
During the year, the Steel Division further strengthened
its environmental transparency through the completion
and verification of Life Cycle Assessments ("LCA") and
Environmental Product Declarations ("EPD") for MCRC
and MST. These assessments provide independently
verified information on the environmental impacts of
steel products throughout their life cycles, enhancing
the Group's ability to respond to growing customer and
supply-chain expectations for greater transparency on
product-level environmental performance.
This progress is particularly relevant as regulatory
developments, including the European Union's Carbon
Border Adjustment Mechanism ("CBAM"), place
increasing emphasis on the carbon intensity of steel
products. Strengthening carbon transparency and
environmental performance will therefore remain
important to the Group's market access and long-term
competitiveness.
Further details on the Group's sustainability strategy,
performance, targets and governance are set out in the
Sustainability Statement.
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PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR
As the Group enters FY2027, the global economic environment is expected to remain challenging. Geopolitical tensions,
evolving US trade measures, monetary policy uncertainty, trade fragmentation and energy security concerns may continue
to influence commodity prices, supply chains and business costs, while weather-related disruptions could add further
volatility.
In Malaysia, domestic demand, exports and investment are expected to remain important drivers of economic activity,
supported by relatively moderate inflation and interest rates. The country also continues to benefit from the China+1
strategy, particularly in the electrical and electronics sector. Nevertheless, external uncertainties and rising business costs
underscore the importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, technological capacity and participation
in higher-value segments of global supply chains.
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PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR (CONT'D)
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Steel Outlook
The domestic steel sector entered the second half of
2026 on a relatively stable footing, supported by resilient
manufacturing activity and improving new orders. The
Malaysia's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index
("PMI") stood at 50.2 points in August 2026, signalling
a return to expansion, while new orders recorded their
fastest growth in eight months. However, subdued business
confidence, geopolitical uncertainties and persistent cost
pressures continue to temper the outlook.
Domestic steel demand is expected to benefit from
infrastructure and industrial development under the 13th
Malaysia Plan ("13MP") and the Johor-Singapore Special
Economic Zone ("JS-SEZ"). The continued expansion of
hyperscale data centres and advanced manufacturing
facilities, particularly in the southern and central regions,
may also create opportunities for the Group.
However, regional steel oversupply and potential trade
diversion remain key challenges, with competition from
foreign producers likely to exert further pressure on
domestic steel prices and operating margins. Globally,
measures to address steel overcapacity and protect domestic
manufacturing are reshaping trade flows. In Europe, the
implementation of the CBAM and the strengthened tariff
rate quota ("TRQ") framework from July 2026 have added
to the challenges facing the Group's exports to the region.
Against this backdrop, the Group will focus on
strengthening its market diversification, operational
efficiency and cost competitiveness to navigate changing
trade conditions and mitigate its exposure to external
market risks.
Food Outlook
The Food Division is expected to continue facing
challenges from elevated food and operating costs,
adverse weather conditions and supply chain disruptions.
The Group will focus on diversifying sourcing channels,
strengthening supply resilience and enhancing domestic
supply capabilities to better manage these pressures.
TUNKU DATO' YAACOB KHYRA
Executive Chairman
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