Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to MENA & Western Balkan Region
(January – May 2023)
A Review on MPO Performance
Middle East
| COUNTRY | Jan-May 2023 | Jan-May 2022 | Y-O-Y Change (MT) | Y-O-Y Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkiye | 354,070 | 359,218 | (5,149) | (1.43) |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 180,601 | 233,948 | (53,347) | (22.80) |
| 3 | Iran | 126,841 | 109,429 | 17,412 | 15.91 |
| 4 | UAE | 76,751 | 106,574 | (29,823) | (27.98) |
| 5 | Yemen | 34,416 | 6,344 | 28,072 | 442.51 |
| 6 | Oman | 28,226 | 59,220 | (30,994) | (52.34) |
| 7 | Syria | 15,814 | 18,166 | (2,352) | (12.95) |
| 8 | Jordan | 14,973 | 11,490 | 3,483 | 30.31 |
| 9 | Kuwait | 12,883 | 11,146 | 1,737 | 15.58 |
| 10 | Qatar | 11,625 | 13,681 | (2,056) | (15.03) |
| 11 | Iraq | 4,342 | 28,121 | (23,779) | (84.56) |
| 12 | Bahrain | 3,204 | 2,462 | 741 | 30.11 |
| 13 | Lebanon | 2,810 | 1,552 | 1,258 | 81.05 |
| 14 | Palestine | 178 | 0 | 178 | – |
| Total | 866,734 | 961,351 | (94,617) | (9.84) |
Source : MPOB
During the review period from January to May 2023, imports of Malaysian palm oil by countries in the Middle East region registered a volume of 866,734 MT which is 94,617 MT or 9.84% lower compared to the same period in 2022. Turkiye is the leading importer of Malaysian palm oil in this region with a volume of 354,070 MT but this volume was a slight decline of 5,149 MT or by 1.43% mainly due to lower demand for packed palm oil products from neighbouring countries such as Russia, Georgia and Iraq.
Imports of MPO to Saudi Arabia also recorded a decline of 53,347 MT or by 22.8% compared to the same period last year. This was mainly due to higher imports of Indonesian palm oil which were supplied at a discounted pric.
Another reason for the decline was the freight cost which has returned to the normal rate and this affected both Saudi Arabia and UAE which were used as the re-export hub to their neighbouring countries such as Eastern African countries, Yemen have importing directly from Malaysia. Jordan and Lebanon registered an increase in MPO imports as a few MPO exporters used their ports for their shipments to Syria
Imports of Malaysian palm oil by Iran showed an increase of 15.91%, registering a volume of 126,841 MT from 109,429 MT in the same period of 2022. Iran is still an important export destination for Malaysian palm oil and the country ranked as the region’s third-largest MPO export destination.
Other countries that recorded an increase were Yemen (442.51%), Jordan (30.31%), Kuwait (15.58 %), Bahrain (30.11%) and Lebanon (81.05%). While countries that registered a drop in imports of MPO were UAE (27.98%), Oman (52.34%), Qatar (15.03%), Syria (12.95%) and Iraq (84.56%).
Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export
| PRODUCT | Jan – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBD PL | 440,514 | 572,874 | -132,360 | (23.10) |
| RBD PO | 113,124 | 115,663 | -2,539 | (2.20) |
| RBD PS | 80,161 | 98,771 | -18,610 | (18.84) |
| CPL | 95,311 | 101,004 | -5,693 | (5.64) |
| CO / DPL | 107,917 | 62,043 | 45,875 | 73.94 |
| CPO | 22,301 | 1,000 | 21,301 | 2,129.91 |
| Others | 7,406 | 9,998 | -2,591 | (25.92) |
| Total | 866,734 | 961,351 | -94,617 | (9.84) |
Source: MPOB
RBD palm olein is the most imported palm oil fraction in this region which accounted for 50.8% 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, UAE and Oman, accounting for 93% of the total RBD PL imported into the region. Out of this volume, 10,393 MT to Turkey was RSPO-certified PL.
Balkan
| COUNTRY | Jan – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 48 | 24 | 24 | 100.00 |
| 2 | Montenegro | 24 | 167 | (143) | (85.42) |
| 3 | Serbia | 19 | 23 | (4) | (19.46) |
| 4 | Macedonia | 13 | 70 | (57) | (81.45) |
| Total | 104 | 284 | (180) | (63.49) |
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 – May 2023, the region imported 104 MT of Malaysian palm oil, which was a drop of 180 MT or 63.49% 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 – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO / DPL | 91 | 214 | (123) | (57.51) |
| RBD PL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| RBD PO | 13 | 70 | (57) | (81.43) |
| Total | 104 | 284 | (180) | (63.40) |
Source: MPOB
For this period, cooking oil is the only imported oil fraction by the region, which accounted for 87.5% of the total palm oil imported during the review period.
For more info please contact Mr. Suhaili
Email : msuhaili@mpoc.org.my
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