Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to MENA & Western Balkan Region
(January – July 2023)
A Review on MPO Performance
Middle East
| COUNTRY | Jan-July 2023 | Jan-July 2022 | Change (MT) | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TURKIYE | 468,074 | 540,620 | (72,546) | (13.42) |
| 2 | SAUDI ARABIA | 240,604 | 330,248 | (89,643) | (27.14) |
| 3 | IRAN | 162,328 | 238,588 | (76,259) | (31.96) |
| 4 | U.A.E | 105,882 | 172,552 | (66,670) | (38.64) |
| 5 | YEMEN ARAB REP. | 50,580 | 12,097 | 38,483 | 318.13 |
| 6 | OMAN | 33,026 | 62,210 | (29,184) | (46.91) |
| 7 | JORDAN | 22,841 | 19,199 | 3,642 | 18.97 |
| 8 | SYRIA | 19,417 | 27,591 | (8,174) | (29.63) |
| 9 | KUWAIT | 16,652 | 15,611 | 1,041 | 6.67 |
| 10 | QATAR | 16,288 | 20,519 | (4,231) | (20.62) |
| 11 | IRAQ | 8,777 | 29,321 | (20,544) | (70.07) |
| 12 | LEBANON | 5,061 | 3,184 | 1,877 | 58.97 |
| 13 | BAHRAIN | 4,565 | 3,392 | 1,173 | 34.60 |
| 14 | PALESTINE | 293 | 0 | 293 | – |
| Total | 1,154,388 | 1,475,132 | (320,744) | (21.74) |
Source : MPOB
Imports of Malaysian palm oil by the Middle East region registered a volume of 1,154,388 MT, which is 320,744 MT or 21.7% lower compared to the same period in 2022. The decline in imports by MPO in this region was due to lower demand for MPO from main importing countries such as Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE which declined by a combined total of 305,118 MT or 95% of the decline.
Turkiye is the leading importer of Malaysian palm oil in this region with a volume of 468,074 MT but imports of MPO has dropped by 72,546 MT or by 13.4% as there were lower demand for finished and packed products from neighbouring countries such as Russia, Georgia and Iraq.
Imports of MPO to Saudi Arabia from January to July 2023 dropped by 27.1% compared to last year mainly due to higher demand for Indonesian palm oil (IPO) who offered discounted prices which have attracted demand in the region. Ever since freight cost returned to normal, most countries in this region has started to import palm oil directly as apposed to through Saudi Arabia and UAE which were formerly used as the re-export hub to their neighbouring countries and Eastern African countries. 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 a drop of 32.0%, registering a volume of 162,328 MT from 238,588 MT in the same period of 2022. This was mainly due to having high carryover stocks but Iran is still an important exporting country ranked as the region’s third-largest MPO export destination.
Other countries that recorded an increase in imports of MPO were Yemen (318.1%), Jordan (19.0%), Kuwait (6.7%), Bahrain (34.6%) and Lebanon (59.0%), while countries that registered a drop in imports of MPO were UAE (38.6%), Oman (47.0%), Qatar (20.6), Syria (29.6%) and Iraq (71.0%).
Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export
| PRODUCT | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBD PL | 585,767 | 833,691 | (247,924) | (29.74) |
| RBD PO | 137,972 | 248,729 | (110,757) | (44.53) |
| RBD PS | 108,418 | 146,285 | (37,867) | (25.89) |
| CPL | 142,564 | 134,505 | 8,059 | 5.99 |
| CO / DPL | 148,702 | 97,735 | 50,966 | 52.15 |
| CPO | 22,301 | 1,000 | 21,301 | 2129.91 |
| Others | 8,663 | 13,187 | (4,524) | (34.30) |
| Total | 1,154,388 | 1,475,132 | (320,744) | (21.74) |
Source: MPOB
RBD palm olein is the most imported palm oil fraction in this region which accounted for 50.7% of the total palm oil products imported into the region. Most of the RBD palm olein in this region was imported by traditional markets such as Iran, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman, accounting for 94.8% of the total RBD PL imported into the region. Out of this volume, 12,549 MT to Turkey and Saudi Arabia were RSPO-certified PL.
Balkan
| COUNTRY | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA | 72 | 24 | 48 | 199.25 |
| 2 | MONTENEGRO | 24 | 191 | (167) | (87.25) |
| 3 | SERBIA | 19 | 262 | (243) | (92.91) |
| 4 | MACEDONIA | 13 | 106 | (93) | (87.70) |
| Total | 128 | 582 | (455) | (78.09) |
Source: MPOB
The Balkan region comprising Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia imported a small volume of Malaysian palm oil. During the period from Jan – July 2023, which was recorded at 128 MT, a drop of 455 MT or 78.1% compared to the corresponding period of last year. The region is mainly a sunflower-producing region, and the higher sunflower seed output has impacted palm oil imports.
Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export
| PRODUCT | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO / DPL | 115 | 285 | (171) | (59.83) |
| RBD PL | 0 | 215 | (215) | 0.00 |
| RBD PO | 13 | 82 | (69) | (84.07) |
| Total | 128 | 582 | (455) | (78.09) |
For more info please contact Mr. Suhaili
Email : msuhaili@mpoc.org.my
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