Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to Americas Region
(January – Jul 2023)
A Review on MPO Export Performance

Table 1 : A Review on MPO Export Performance (MT)

During January-July 2023 period, total Malaysian palm oil export to the Americas region recorded a total volume of  104,479 MT against 136,751 MT which was registered during the same period of 2022 (refer to Table 1). This represents a decline of 32,272 MT or by 23.6%. The decline in MPO export to the Americas region is largely attributed to lower purchase from the biggest buyer in the region, the United States (US). During Jan-July 2023 period, total MPO exports to US declined to 66,801 MT from 100,031 MT recorded during the same period of last year.

In terms of product breakdown to the Americas region, the biggest product being exported to the region during Jan-July 2023 period is RBD palm oil accounting for 32% of total exports (refer to Chart 2 and table 3).

After RBD palm oil, RBD palm stearin (20%) is another major palm oil product exported into the Americas region, followed by RBD palm olein (15%). Among the major importers of RBD palm oil are the USA (25,685 MT), Chile (2,279 MT) and Mexico (1,487 MT). Major destinations for Malaysian RBD palm stearin include the USA (18,483 MT), Trinidad and Tobago (871 MT) and Argentina (643 MT). Exports of RBD palm olein are mainly purchased by the USA (9,464 MT), Canada (3,442 MT) and Trinidad and Tobago (1,396 MT). NBD palm olein is another major export product, mainly purchased by the USA (7,150 MT).

Chart 2: Breakdown of Total MPO Export to the Americas Region

Source : MPOB

Table 3: Breakdown of Total MPO Export (MT) to the Americas Region

As for the USA, the main products imported are RBD palm oil, RBD palm stearin and RBD palm olein are the top three products exported to US comprising almost 80% of the overall MPO export to US (refer to table 4). Export of RBD palm oil decreased by 5.0%, RBD palm stearin decreased by 34.6% while RBD palm olein decreased by 60.8%.

Table 4: Breakdown of Total MPO Export (MT) to USA

The main reason for the decline in imports by the USA is due to higher soybean oil consumption in the USA driven by booming production of biodiesel. US crop conditions of soybean and corn has improved sizably while domestic soybean oil output has recovered sizeably from the reduced level registered in June 2023. Despite higher production, it was still lower than total US demand, leading to a further decline in soybean oil stocks.

As for other palm products, the USA also imported palm-based oleo, palm kernel oil, finished products and biodiesel from Malaysia (refer to table 5).

Table 5: Malaysian Oil Palm Products Export to USA by Product Group

Canada, another important market for MPO in this region, has been consistently importing palm oil from Malaysia over the years. Total MPO export increased by 13.1% to 7,426 MT during Jan-July 2023 period from 6,566 MT registered during same period last year (refer to Table 6). The main product imported is RBD palm olein accounting for 46.3% of total MPO import by Canada. This is followed by PFAD at 1,675 MT, registering a rise by 272.2% on year-to-year basis, followed by super palm olein at 1,592 MT. Other than palm oil, palm-based oleo is another product group majorly exported by Malaysia to Canada (refer to table 7).

Table 6: Breakdown of Total MPO Export (MT) to Canada

Table 7: Malaysian Oil Palm Products Export to Canada by Product Group

For more info please contact Mrs Nur Adibah
Email : nuradibah@mpoc.org.my