According to the analysts of the national MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board), more than 1.77 million tons of oil palm products were sold from Malaysia to foreign markets in May 2023. Compared to the same month last year, export performance decreased by 17%, compared to April 2023 – by 0.02%.
According to MPOB data, palm oil accounted for around 61% of all sales in May shipments – over 1.08 million tons (+0.4% to April 2023; -21% to May 2022).
In particular, compared to the previous month, exports of crude palm oil increased by 33% to 249.9 thousand tons, and shipments of refined palm oil, in contrast, decreased by 7% to 829.1 thousand tons. May 2022 shipments were 396.8 thousand tons (-37%) and 972.9 thousand tons (-15%), respectively.
More than 58% of palm oil (crude and refined) was exported through major international ports: Port Klang, Pasir Gudang, Lahad Datu and Sandakan.
In the reporting period, more than 93.8 thousand tons of palm kernel oil was also shipped from Malaysia abroad. Volumes were 6% higher than in April.
Exports of crude palm kernel oil compared to the previous month decreased by 21% to 16.2 thousand tons. At the same time the supply of refined palm kernel oil from Malaysia increased by 14% to 77.6 thousand tons. In May 2022, export volumes were 19.7 thousand tons (-17%) and 61.8 thousand tons (+25%), respectively.
Shipments of palm kernel meal in the fifth month of the year amounted to 177.9 thousand tons, which is 4% higher than in April 2023 and 0.2% lower than in the same month of 2022.
MPOB also notes that Malaysia significantly increased its biodiesel sales to 13,600 tons (+220% over April 2023; -71% over May 2022) in the month under review.