KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Malaysia and Indonesia will be the focus of international oils and fats trade this year, supported by the projection of a 4% world economic growth and higher demand for vegetable oils, said the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
Chief executive officer Wan Aishah Wan Hamid said demand for vegetable oils is growing in tandem with the economic recovery but supply disruption had caused vegetable oil prices to record high levels, especially over the past few months.
“Palm oil prices skyrocketed in February 2022 and established new record highs, supported by current low stocks and lower production in the two major palm oil-producing countries, Indonesia and Malaysia,” she said in her presentation during the Palm Oil Internet Seminar (Pointers) on Monday (March 28).
Themed “Assessing 2022: Managing Opportunities and Risks”, the seminar features six presentations covering topics such as supply and demand of oils and fats, prices and the market outlook, opportunities for palm oil in Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa markets, among others.
The seminar runs from March 28 until April 1.
Wan Aishah noted that Indonesia and Malaysia contribute up to 85% of global palm oil production.
Among other vegetable oils globally, 30% of oils and fats production comes from Indonesia and Malaysia as well.
She said the MPOC forecast Malaysia’s crude palm oil (CPO) production to be at 18.9 million tonnes this year, up from 18.1 million tonnes last year.
