Middle East

	COUNTRY	Jan-Mar 2023	Jan-Mar 2022	Y-O-Y Change(MT)	Y-O-Y Change (%)
1	Turkiye	262,351	222,273	40,079	18.03
2	Saudi Arabia	108,993	123,074	(14,081)	(11.44)
3	Iran	91,178	63,587	27,592	43.39
4	UAE	44,627	54,267	(9,640)	(17.76)
5	Yemen	29,199	1,582	27,617	1,745.90
6	Oman	14,299	35,244	(20,944)	(59.43)
7	Syria	10,208	16,970	(6,762)	(39.84)
8	Jordan	9,392	6,469	2,923	45.18
9	Qatar	7,129	8,725	(1,596)	(18.30)
10	Kuwait	6,976	5,241	1,735	33.10
11	Iraq	3,415	1,334	2,080	155.88
12	Lebanon	2,123	740	1,384	187.11
13	Bahrain	1,740	1,328	412	31.01
14	Palestine	111	0	111	–
	Total	591,742	540,834	50,908	9.41

Source : MPOB Imports of Malaysian palm oil by the Middle East region registered a volume of 591,742 MT which is 50,908 MT or 9.41% higher compared to the same period in 2022. Turkiye is the leading importer of Malaysian palm oil in this region with a volume of 262,351 MT.  The country has recorded an increase of 18.03 % in imports of Malaysian palm oil.    The increase in MPO is mainly because of HORECA sector is performing well supported by the increase of tourist arrival more than doubled this year. The export of MPO to neighbouring countries such as Russia, Georgia, Iraq and Syria by Turkiye also contributed to an overall increase in palm oil import. Imports of MPO to Saudi Arabia for the period of January to March 2023 dropped by 11.44% compared to the same period last year. Indonesian palm oil supplies at discounted price has attracted the palm oil demand in the region. Hence, some of MPO’s market shares were taken by IPO.  Freight cost has returned to the normal rate. Saudi Arabia and UAE which were used as the re-export hub to their neighbouring countries and Eastern African countries are not attractive at this moment. The importers from those countries were importing direct from Malaysia. Countries like Yemen, which traditionally imports palm oil from their neighbours opt to import directly from Malaysia taking advantage of the lower freight cost. Jordan and Lebanon registered an increase in MPO imports because MPO exporters used their ports for their shipments to Syria Imports of Malaysian palm oil by Iran showed an increase of 43.39% registering a volume of 91,178 MT from 63,587 MT in the same period of 2022. However, Iran is still an important exporting country ranked as the third largest MPO export destination in the region. Other countries that recorded an increase were Yemen (1,745.90%), Jordan (45.18%), Kuwait (33.10%), Iraq (155.88%), Bahrain (31.01%) and Lebanon (187.11%). While, countries that registered a drop in imports of MPO were UAE (17.76%), Oman (59.43%), Qatar (18.30%) and Syria (39.84%). Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export

PRODUCT	Jan – Mar 2023	Jan – Mar 2022	Diff (MT)	Diff (%)
RBD PL	302,701	308,444	-5,743	(1.86)
RBD PO	74,100	66,015	8,085	12.25
RBD PS	51,727	62,788	-11,061	(17.62)
CPL	46,989	52,001	-5,012	(9.64)
CO / DPL	76,265	33,789	42,476	125.71
CPO	20,301	0	20,301	–
Others	22,721	5,069	17,652	348.20
Total	591,742	540,834	50,908	9.41

Source: MPOB RBD palm olein is the most imported palm oil fraction in this region which accounted for 51.2% of the total palm oil products imported into the region. Most of the RBD palm olein in this region was imported from traditional markets such as Iran, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman accounting for 9.5% of the total RBD PL imported into the region. Out of this volume, 6,144 MT was RSPO-certified PL to Turkey.

Balkan

	COUNTRY	Jan – Mar 2023	Jan – Mar 2022	Diff (Vol)	Diff (%)
1	Bosnia-Herceg	48	24	24	100.00
2	Montenegro	24	24	0	1.80
3	Serbia	19	23	(4)	(19.46)
4	Macedonia	0	47	(47)	(100.00)
	Total	91	118	(27)	(23.02)

Source: MPOB The Balkan region which comprises Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia imported a small volume of Malaysian palm oil. During the period from Jan – March 2023, the region imported 91 MT of Malaysian palm oil which was a drop of 27 MT or 23% compared to the corresponding period of last year. The region is mainly a sunflower-producing region and the higher sunflower seed output has impacted the imports of palm oil. Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export

PRODUCT	Jan – Mar 2023	Jan – Mar 2022	Diff (MT)	Diff (%)
CO / DPL	91	71	20	28.05
RBD PL	0	0	0	0.00
RBD PO	0	47	(47)	(100.00)
Total	91	118	(27)	(23.02)

Source: MPOB For this period, cooking oil is the only imported oil fractions by the region which accounted for 100% of the total palm oil imported during the review period.