Malaysia identifying new potential markets for palm oil in Africa, says Kok

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 8 — The Ministry of Primary Industries is identifying new potential markets for palm oil in Africa, home to 1.2 billion people, as some countries in the continent boast rapid economic growth, its minister, Teresa Kok said.

As palm oil is one of the most affordable cooking oils compared with soybean oil, sunflower oil and olive oil, she said it has the potential to produce palm oil-based products as a viable option for Africans.

“Malaysian palm oil has a vast potential in these African countries, which are supported by strong economic growth that could directly boost demand for cooking oil,” she told Bernama.

Citing Ethiopia, which she visited last month, as an example, Kok said the country, which has a population of 100 million, records a stunning economic growth rate of between 9.0 per cent and 11 per cent.

“So, Ethiopia has a tremendous potential for our country’s palm oil,” said Kok, who is intensifying efforts to find new markets for palm oil amid the ongoing anti-palm oil campaign.

Ethiopia, in 2018, imported 149,435 tonnes of Malaysian palm oil and palm oil-based products worth RM457.17 million.

Kok said the government continues its relentless efforts to thwart the anti-oil campaign and eliminate trade barriers to increase market access of palm oil through the RM27 million allocation proposed in the 2020 Budget.

In another development, she said Japan and South Korea have expressed interest in importing Malaysian palm oil which is produced sustainably under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.

She said the government strives to achieve the target of 100 per cent MSPO certified oil palm estates across Malaysia by the end of next year by doubling its efforts to enlighten estate operators on its importance.

“So far, 55 per cent of the total oil palm area in the country is already certified under the MSPO and I expect that by the end of this month it will reach 60 per cent,” he said.

The government introduced the MSPO certification in 2015 to ensure that planters and smallholders comply with the requirements set out to produce sustainable palm oil by practising environmental awareness.

While Malaysia is making forays into new markets for palm oil, Kok said it does not forget the key markets in Europe.

“Europe is Malaysia’s second largest palm oil market, and they always set standards that other countries to follow, especially in relation to the environment, which will eventually become the global standard,” he said. ­— Bernama

On the crude palm oil price, Kok said it has reached more than RM2,500 per tonne and it is expected to continue to rise until early next year, reaching RM2,600 per tonne. — Bernama