Malaysian palm oil product exports hit a five-month high in May

04-Jun-2025 05:49 PM

Kuala Lumpur. Although official data on palm oil production, exports, domestic consumption, and stocks for May 2025 will be released next week by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), preliminary data from independent cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services (ITS) shows that Malaysia's palm oil exports rose sharply in May, reaching the highest level since at least January 2025. The increase was driven by stronger shipments to the European Union, the Indian subcontinent, and China.

According to ITS, Malaysia exported 13.21 lakh tonnes of palm oil products in May, a significant rise of 2 lakh tonnes from April’s 11.21 lakh tonnes. Earlier, exports were 10.66 lakh tonnes in March, 10.62 lakh tonnes in February, and 11.92 lakh tonnes in January 2025.

In May, palm oil exports to the European Union increased from 2,65,808 tonnes to 2,97,351 tonnes, to the Indian subcontinent from 2,04,100 tonnes to 2,88,799 tonnes, and to China from 83,980 tonnes to 1,28,220 tonnes. The remaining volume was shipped to other destinations.

Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia. The ITS data for May 2025 showed shipments of 2,58,189 tonnes of crude palm oil, 1,17,553 tonnes of RBD palm oil, 3,34,355 tonnes of refined palmolein, 1,19,213 tonnes of RBD palm stearin, 20,470 tonnes of crude palm kernel oil, and 55,090 tonnes of palm fatty acid distillate.