InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia's palm oil exports saw a decline of 12.94% in January 2025, dropping to 1.17 million tons from 1.34 million tons in December 2024, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) industry performance report, as reported by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).

In the report, MPOB noted that crude palm oil (CPO) production in January decreased by 16.80%, or 249,864 tons, falling to 1.24 million tons from 1.49 million tons the previous month. Palm kernel output also experienced a monthly decline of 13.57%, down to 290,883 tons from 336,558 tons in December. The production of crude palm kernel oil decreased by 12.60% to 137,158 tons from 156,926 tons, while palm kernel cake fell by 12.16% to 151,813 tons from 172,826 tons.

On the stock side, MPOB reported that CPO inventory dropped by 11.78% to 788,946 tons compared to 894,330 tons in December. Processed palm oil stocks also decreased by 2.90% to 790,817 tons from 814,426 tons the previous month, resulting in a total palm oil stock reduction of 7.55% to 1.58 million tons from 1.71 million tons in December.

Palm kernel oil exports recorded a significant decline of 40.85%, falling to 56,737 tons in January from 95,918 tons in December. Meanwhile, palm kernel cake exports slightly weakened by 0.09% to 177,396 tons from 177,553 tons the previous month.

However, biodiesel exports surged by 121.89% to 33,795 tons in January from 15,231 tons previously. Oleochemical exports also increased by 4.08% to 232,567 tons compared to 223,447 tons in the previous month.

MPOB also reported no CPO imports in January, while total palm kernel oil imports plummeted by 72.04% to 5,673 tons from 20,291 tons in December. (T2)